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New Panama Papers leak exposes relatives of President Xi, Jackie Chan, Putin aides
- Thread starter VanHalen
- Start date
Re: New Panama Papers leak exposes relatives of President Xi, Jackie Chan, Putin aide
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1937634/panama-papers-scandal-deepens-china-targets-offshore
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1937634/panama-papers-scandal-deepens-china-targets-offshore
Re: New Panama Papers leak exposes relatives of President Xi, Jackie Chan, Putin aide
Pakistan PM says to resign if found guilty in Panama Papers probe
AFP on April 23, 2016, 3:00 am
Islamabad (AFP) - Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday pledged to resign if a probe related to the Panama Papers tax scandal found his family had committed any wrongdoing.
Three of Sharif's children were named in a vast leak of documents from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca this month that has revealed how the wealthy hide their money.
The premier has announced a probe into the revelations contained in the Panama Papers, which claim his children owned London property through an offshore company.
His daughter, Maryam, who has been tipped to be his political successor, was named along with his sons Hasan and Hussain.
Sharif defended his family on television Friday, saying the claims had been investigated twice, decades ago, under the tenure former military ruler Pervez Musharraf.
He also pledged to create a new judicial commission headed by a retired judge to investigate the allegations, after his first proposal was rejected by lawmakers.
"If the allegations levelled against me any my family members are proved, I will resign without any delay," he said.
"I hereby announce (I will) write to the chief justice, asking him to lead the judicial commission, which will investigate revelations made in the Panama Papers."
Allegations of corruption are particularly sensitive for Pakistan's government, which is receiving a $6.6 billion bailout package from the IMF.
Sharif has come under pressure over the claims, and last week a member of the public called him "useless" and put him up for sale on eBay -- with bids soaring to more than $90,000.
The post, which went viral in Pakistan, promised to throw in Sharif's brother Shahbaz, the current governor of Punjab province, for free.
Pakistan PM says to resign if found guilty in Panama Papers probe
AFP on April 23, 2016, 3:00 am
Islamabad (AFP) - Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday pledged to resign if a probe related to the Panama Papers tax scandal found his family had committed any wrongdoing.
Three of Sharif's children were named in a vast leak of documents from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca this month that has revealed how the wealthy hide their money.
The premier has announced a probe into the revelations contained in the Panama Papers, which claim his children owned London property through an offshore company.
His daughter, Maryam, who has been tipped to be his political successor, was named along with his sons Hasan and Hussain.
Sharif defended his family on television Friday, saying the claims had been investigated twice, decades ago, under the tenure former military ruler Pervez Musharraf.
He also pledged to create a new judicial commission headed by a retired judge to investigate the allegations, after his first proposal was rejected by lawmakers.
"If the allegations levelled against me any my family members are proved, I will resign without any delay," he said.
"I hereby announce (I will) write to the chief justice, asking him to lead the judicial commission, which will investigate revelations made in the Panama Papers."
Allegations of corruption are particularly sensitive for Pakistan's government, which is receiving a $6.6 billion bailout package from the IMF.
Sharif has come under pressure over the claims, and last week a member of the public called him "useless" and put him up for sale on eBay -- with bids soaring to more than $90,000.
The post, which went viral in Pakistan, promised to throw in Sharif's brother Shahbaz, the current governor of Punjab province, for free.
Re: New Panama Papers leak exposes relatives of President Xi, Jackie Chan, Putin aide
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1937972/revealed-shell-company-minister-polytechnic-university-and
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1937972/revealed-shell-company-minister-polytechnic-university-and
Re: New Panama Papers leak exposes relatives of President Xi, Jackie Chan, Putin aide
Family of Iceland president's wife tied to 'Panama Papers'
AFP on April 26, 2016, 6:33 am
Reykjavik (AFP) - Iceland's president on Monday denied knowing that his wife's family had offshore investments which were revealed in the "Panama Papers" leak following revelations in the Icelandic media.
Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, 72, who has been president since 1996, confirmed last week that he would seek another term as president in June's election.
The case could prove embarrassing for Grimsson who has made a virtue of his integrity and assured US broadcaster CNN on Friday that neither he or his family would be linked to the Panama Papers leak of millions of financial records.
But the English language website Reykjavik Grapevine reported that the family of Grimsson's British-Israeli wife, Dorrit Moussaieff, had an interest in a British Virgin Islands company, Lasca Finance Limited.
Between 2000 and 2005, the company received part of the profits from the Moussaieff Jewellers chain.
Grimsson said that even if such transactions had happened, he and his wife were unaware of them.
"Neither the president nor Dorrit have any knowledge of this company, nor have they heard about it before," said the president's office, according to Iceland's Kjarninn news site.
Grimsson's spokesman could not be reached for comment Monday.
The country fell into crisis this month after former prime minister Sigurdur David Gunnlaugsson was pressured to resign amid mass protests over a hidden offshore account worth millions of dollars.
Grimsson played a calming role during the turmoil, opposing the head of government who wanted to dissolve parliament immediately. On April 7, he swore in a new prime minister, Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson.
The presidency in Iceland is largely a ceremonial position, and Grimsson has limited powers. He can call a referendum on a law passed by parliament if it is felt the whole nation should have a say.
Grimsson's earlier terms were marked by the financial crisis of 2008 which devastated the small island's economy.
He subsequently convened two referendums, in 2010 and 2011, over the astronomical sums demanded by Britain and the Netherlands after savings bank Icesave went bust.
Family of Iceland president's wife tied to 'Panama Papers'
AFP on April 26, 2016, 6:33 am
Reykjavik (AFP) - Iceland's president on Monday denied knowing that his wife's family had offshore investments which were revealed in the "Panama Papers" leak following revelations in the Icelandic media.
Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, 72, who has been president since 1996, confirmed last week that he would seek another term as president in June's election.
The case could prove embarrassing for Grimsson who has made a virtue of his integrity and assured US broadcaster CNN on Friday that neither he or his family would be linked to the Panama Papers leak of millions of financial records.
But the English language website Reykjavik Grapevine reported that the family of Grimsson's British-Israeli wife, Dorrit Moussaieff, had an interest in a British Virgin Islands company, Lasca Finance Limited.
Between 2000 and 2005, the company received part of the profits from the Moussaieff Jewellers chain.
Grimsson said that even if such transactions had happened, he and his wife were unaware of them.
"Neither the president nor Dorrit have any knowledge of this company, nor have they heard about it before," said the president's office, according to Iceland's Kjarninn news site.
Grimsson's spokesman could not be reached for comment Monday.
The country fell into crisis this month after former prime minister Sigurdur David Gunnlaugsson was pressured to resign amid mass protests over a hidden offshore account worth millions of dollars.
Grimsson played a calming role during the turmoil, opposing the head of government who wanted to dissolve parliament immediately. On April 7, he swore in a new prime minister, Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson.
The presidency in Iceland is largely a ceremonial position, and Grimsson has limited powers. He can call a referendum on a law passed by parliament if it is felt the whole nation should have a say.
Grimsson's earlier terms were marked by the financial crisis of 2008 which devastated the small island's economy.
He subsequently convened two referendums, in 2010 and 2011, over the astronomical sums demanded by Britain and the Netherlands after savings bank Icesave went bust.
Re: New Panama Papers leak exposes relatives of President Xi, Jackie Chan, Putin aide
Hong Kong government sidesteps calls for action after revelations in Panama Papers
There is no law against setting up firms outside the city’s jurisdiction, minister says, after leaks reveal Hong Kong’s key role as a tax haven intermediary
PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 27 April, 2016, 7:27pm
UPDATED : Wednesday, 27 April, 2016, 7:35pm
Danny Lee
[email protected]
As European nations fast-track proposals to crack down on tax avoidance after the Panama Papers revealed how the world’s wealthy hide their riches, the Hong Kong government sidestepped questions on whether it would take any action.
New official data also revealed that a government agency set up to combat money laundering had passed on more cases than ever for criminal investigation.
The government, however, remained tight-lipped over calls by lawmakers to investigate names linked to secretive Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca or investigate potential illegality among the city’s middlemen who dispense offshore advice.
Hong Kong was revealed in the leaked Panama Papers as having the most intermediaries offering services for the purpose of setting up offshore companies to help wealthy clients shelter money. The city was labelled a “top centre for secretive offshore financial services”.
In a written response to questions from accountancy sector lawmaker Kenneth Leung, the government said such services were not illegal in Hong Kong.
“There is no law in Hong Kong prohibiting companies or commercial entities from setting up companies in jurisdictions outside Hong Kong,” said Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Professor Chan Ka-keung.
But he said the authorities would investigate any reports of suspicious financial transactions.
Leung maintained Hong Kong had “a role and responsibility to tell the international business community and foreign governments that Hong Kong is not a tax haven nor a centre for money laundering”.
He added that the city had “the required legislation, which have met international standards”.
The lawmaker was also concerned about middlemen posing as qualified white-collar workers offering tax haven-type services, which could harm the image of lawyers and accountants.
Last week former civil service minister Joseph Wong Wing-ping said Hong Kong had no choice but to follow the global trend to tighten interest declaration systems and improve transparency in the wake of the Panama Papers.
New figures disclosed in the Legislative Council showed the number of cases referred by the government’s Joint Financial Intelligence Unit (JFIU) for criminal investigation climbed to 10,454 last year, a fresh high, from 7,662 in 2014, accounting for 25 per cent of all reported cases.
On Sunday, the South China Morning Post reported that the overall number of reports of suspected dodgy financial dealings – known formally as suspicious transaction reports – made to the JFIU reached an all-time high of 42,555 in 2015.
Despite the rising caseload, there was just one investigator last year for every 895 potential money laundering cases.
Chan gave no indication that extra resources would be made available, telling lawmakers: “The JFIU will review and adjust its workload in handling [suspicious transaction reports] from time to time to cope with the increased caseload.”
Hong Kong government sidesteps calls for action after revelations in Panama Papers
There is no law against setting up firms outside the city’s jurisdiction, minister says, after leaks reveal Hong Kong’s key role as a tax haven intermediary
PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 27 April, 2016, 7:27pm
UPDATED : Wednesday, 27 April, 2016, 7:35pm
Danny Lee
[email protected]
As European nations fast-track proposals to crack down on tax avoidance after the Panama Papers revealed how the world’s wealthy hide their riches, the Hong Kong government sidestepped questions on whether it would take any action.
New official data also revealed that a government agency set up to combat money laundering had passed on more cases than ever for criminal investigation.
The government, however, remained tight-lipped over calls by lawmakers to investigate names linked to secretive Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca or investigate potential illegality among the city’s middlemen who dispense offshore advice.
Hong Kong was revealed in the leaked Panama Papers as having the most intermediaries offering services for the purpose of setting up offshore companies to help wealthy clients shelter money. The city was labelled a “top centre for secretive offshore financial services”.
In a written response to questions from accountancy sector lawmaker Kenneth Leung, the government said such services were not illegal in Hong Kong.
“There is no law in Hong Kong prohibiting companies or commercial entities from setting up companies in jurisdictions outside Hong Kong,” said Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Professor Chan Ka-keung.
But he said the authorities would investigate any reports of suspicious financial transactions.
Leung maintained Hong Kong had “a role and responsibility to tell the international business community and foreign governments that Hong Kong is not a tax haven nor a centre for money laundering”.
He added that the city had “the required legislation, which have met international standards”.
The lawmaker was also concerned about middlemen posing as qualified white-collar workers offering tax haven-type services, which could harm the image of lawyers and accountants.
Last week former civil service minister Joseph Wong Wing-ping said Hong Kong had no choice but to follow the global trend to tighten interest declaration systems and improve transparency in the wake of the Panama Papers.
New figures disclosed in the Legislative Council showed the number of cases referred by the government’s Joint Financial Intelligence Unit (JFIU) for criminal investigation climbed to 10,454 last year, a fresh high, from 7,662 in 2014, accounting for 25 per cent of all reported cases.
On Sunday, the South China Morning Post reported that the overall number of reports of suspected dodgy financial dealings – known formally as suspicious transaction reports – made to the JFIU reached an all-time high of 42,555 in 2015.
Despite the rising caseload, there was just one investigator last year for every 895 potential money laundering cases.
Chan gave no indication that extra resources would be made available, telling lawmakers: “The JFIU will review and adjust its workload in handling [suspicious transaction reports] from time to time to cope with the increased caseload.”
Re: New Panama Papers leak exposes relatives of President Xi, Jackie Chan, Putin aide
Two more Hong Kong universities admit they also have offshore companies after Panama Papers exposed PolyU
Renewed calls for a review of transparency standards after fresh disclosures by the University of Hong Kong and Chinese University
PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 27 April, 2016, 10:19pm
UPDATED : Wednesday, 27 April, 2016, 10:36pm
Jeffie Lam Stuart Lau
Two more Hong Kong universities have admitted they have offshore companies, days after the leaked Panama Papers exposed the secretive commercial operations of Polytechnic University.
The disclosures by the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) prompted more calls for a review of the transparency standards for business dealings of publicly funded academic bodies.
A number of pan-democratic lawmakers, including Kenneth Leung of the accountancy sector and Dr Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung, a PolyU academic, said they planned to investigate the matter and raise it in the Legislative Council after the Post’s exposé.
The first university discovered to own secretive BVI firms, PolyU, faces more questions as it did not name the two BVI firms in its financial reports.
CUHK has consistently done so in its financial reports.
In reply to a Post inquiry, HKU confirmed it owned five BVI firms, two of them set up in 2000 to hold 11.7 per cent shares in an unnamed biotechnology company. They had been dormant for some years, it said.
The other three firms were set up by Versitech, a not-for-profit technology transfer arm wholly owned by HKU. One had been dormant and the two still in operation hold 20 per cent shares in two medical services companies.
While defending the use of offshore companies as a “measure of risk management” without using public money, HKU pledged to consider closing dormant companies when necessary.
Chinese University confirmed it had held a dormant, unprofitable BVI firm, HKIX Hong Kong Limited, since 2000, adding: “The original purpose is take advantage of the flexibility in shares transfer in BVI for spin-offs in the process of technology transfer that might ... attract international investors.”
The remaining five publicly funded local universities said they had no offshore companies.
CUHK has given more details than HKU or PolyU, saying the decision to set up the firm was approved by the governing council.
PolyU, meanwhile, set up companies in 2012 and 2013 upon the approval of its president, Timothy Tong Wai-cheung, calling it a last alternative to exit from loss-making joint ventures. Some council members told the Post they had no recollection of being told about such firms.
A closer look at the financial reports indicate inconsistent levels of disclosure among institutions.
While CUHK listed the firm in its financial reports, HKU included only one of five BVI firms in annual reports. But Versitech named all its BVI firms in publicised reports.
PolyU’s BVI subsidiaries were not published anywhere, even though it insisted it complied with professional standards. The firms only came to light after the leak of Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca’s documents, uncovered based on a signature of Nicholas Yang Wei-hsiung, then PolyU vice-president and now Hong Kong’s secretary for innovation and technology.
Lawmaker Leung said Chinese University demonstrated a good example of proper disclosure: “The schools should comply with the highest standards of accounting disclosure and obtain the approval from the [council].”
But former education sector lawmaker Cheung Man-kwong, a CUHK council member in 2001, said he had no memory: “Usually the council only exchanged ideas on hotly debated issues. Other matters like forming companies were quickly dealt with by a show of hands.”
HKU council member Eric Cheung Tat-ming said the council would look into matters that would potentially pose a “reputational risk”.
Two more Hong Kong universities admit they also have offshore companies after Panama Papers exposed PolyU
Renewed calls for a review of transparency standards after fresh disclosures by the University of Hong Kong and Chinese University
PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 27 April, 2016, 10:19pm
UPDATED : Wednesday, 27 April, 2016, 10:36pm
Jeffie Lam Stuart Lau
Two more Hong Kong universities have admitted they have offshore companies, days after the leaked Panama Papers exposed the secretive commercial operations of Polytechnic University.
The disclosures by the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) prompted more calls for a review of the transparency standards for business dealings of publicly funded academic bodies.
A number of pan-democratic lawmakers, including Kenneth Leung of the accountancy sector and Dr Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung, a PolyU academic, said they planned to investigate the matter and raise it in the Legislative Council after the Post’s exposé.
The first university discovered to own secretive BVI firms, PolyU, faces more questions as it did not name the two BVI firms in its financial reports.
CUHK has consistently done so in its financial reports.
In reply to a Post inquiry, HKU confirmed it owned five BVI firms, two of them set up in 2000 to hold 11.7 per cent shares in an unnamed biotechnology company. They had been dormant for some years, it said.
The other three firms were set up by Versitech, a not-for-profit technology transfer arm wholly owned by HKU. One had been dormant and the two still in operation hold 20 per cent shares in two medical services companies.
While defending the use of offshore companies as a “measure of risk management” without using public money, HKU pledged to consider closing dormant companies when necessary.
Chinese University confirmed it had held a dormant, unprofitable BVI firm, HKIX Hong Kong Limited, since 2000, adding: “The original purpose is take advantage of the flexibility in shares transfer in BVI for spin-offs in the process of technology transfer that might ... attract international investors.”
The remaining five publicly funded local universities said they had no offshore companies.
CUHK has given more details than HKU or PolyU, saying the decision to set up the firm was approved by the governing council.
PolyU, meanwhile, set up companies in 2012 and 2013 upon the approval of its president, Timothy Tong Wai-cheung, calling it a last alternative to exit from loss-making joint ventures. Some council members told the Post they had no recollection of being told about such firms.
A closer look at the financial reports indicate inconsistent levels of disclosure among institutions.
While CUHK listed the firm in its financial reports, HKU included only one of five BVI firms in annual reports. But Versitech named all its BVI firms in publicised reports.
PolyU’s BVI subsidiaries were not published anywhere, even though it insisted it complied with professional standards. The firms only came to light after the leak of Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca’s documents, uncovered based on a signature of Nicholas Yang Wei-hsiung, then PolyU vice-president and now Hong Kong’s secretary for innovation and technology.
Lawmaker Leung said Chinese University demonstrated a good example of proper disclosure: “The schools should comply with the highest standards of accounting disclosure and obtain the approval from the [council].”
But former education sector lawmaker Cheung Man-kwong, a CUHK council member in 2001, said he had no memory: “Usually the council only exchanged ideas on hotly debated issues. Other matters like forming companies were quickly dealt with by a show of hands.”
HKU council member Eric Cheung Tat-ming said the council would look into matters that would potentially pose a “reputational risk”.
Re: New Panama Papers leak exposes relatives of President Xi, Jackie Chan, Putin aide
let's hope this will go back al the way to the illegal opium trading period in 1700s to 197) (170 years) of money owned by the British drug growers and traffickers.
Another is the looting of treasures by the British bastards that they took in the opium war 1 and 2?
Where are the treasures, you bastards British?
let's hope this will go back al the way to the illegal opium trading period in 1700s to 197) (170 years) of money owned by the British drug growers and traffickers.
Another is the looting of treasures by the British bastards that they took in the opium war 1 and 2?
Where are the treasures, you bastards British?
Re: New Panama Papers leak exposes relatives of President Xi, Jackie Chan, Putin aide
did you notice any similarity?
British Virgin Island? Only such criminal activities in major scales happens in British colony?
The British are at it again. The British ONLY grow and harvest opium but did not sell them? The auction their opium products and let others sell them to China?
Only the British are good in crimes in large scale.
This time it is money laundry, last time was opium trade.
did you notice any similarity?
British Virgin Island? Only such criminal activities in major scales happens in British colony?
The British are at it again. The British ONLY grow and harvest opium but did not sell them? The auction their opium products and let others sell them to China?
Only the British are good in crimes in large scale.
This time it is money laundry, last time was opium trade.
Re: New Panama Papers leak exposes relatives of President Xi, Jackie Chan, Putin aide
Do you think Karl Marx and Lenin are Cheena?
Why is Cheena worshipping Angmos?
Do you think Karl Marx and Lenin are Cheena?
Why is Cheena worshipping Angmos?
Re: New Panama Papers leak exposes relatives of President Xi, Jackie Chan, Putin aide
Panama Papers source releases manifesto, says motivation was 'scale of injustices'
Reuters
First posted: Friday, May 06, 2016 02:39 PM EDT | Updated: Friday, May 06, 2016 02:58 PM EDT
Security guards are reflected by a door where placards featuring the portraits of Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping and British Prime Minister David Cameron are displayed by protesters, at the entrance of the regional head office of Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca in Hong Kong, Tuesday, April 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
BERLIN - Sueddeutsche Zeitung said on Friday that the source of millions of documents leaked to the German newspaper from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca had sent them a manifesto, saying his motivation was the "scale of injustices" the papers revealed.
The source had never before publicly stated why he leaked the documents, now known as the Panama Papers, said Sueddeutsche Zeitung (SZ), one of Germany's most reputable newspapers.
In an 1,800 word manifesto published on the SZ website on Friday, the source, calling himself "John Doe", praised others who have leaked secret and sensitive documents, such as Edward Snowden, who revealed details of the U.S. government's mass surveillance program.
"For his revelations about the National Security Agency (NSA), he deserves a hero's welcome and a substantial prize, not banishment," the source wrote.
He also said he would be willing to co-operate with law enforcement agencies.
READ THE MANIFESTO HERE.
He called on the European Commission, Britain, the United States and other nations to take steps to protect people who reveal private information about such sensitive issues rather than punishing them.
"Legitimate whistleblowers who expose unquestionable wrongdoing, whether insiders or outsiders, deserve immunity from government retribution, full stop," he said.
The source, who contacted the paper a year ago with an offer of encrypted internal documents from Mossack Fonseca, denied being a spy but said he had recognized the "scale of injustices" described in their contents.
The documents cover a period over almost 40 years, from 1977 until last December, and purport to show that some companies domiciled in tax havens were being used for suspected money laundering, arms and drug deals and tax evasion.
Reuters could not independently verify whether the source was the same person who leaked the original documents. The source's identity and gender is not known.
Sueddeutsche Zeitung spent more than a year, along with other media outlets and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, analysing the huge cache of documents.
On Friday, Sueddeutsche Zeitung introduced the manifesto by saying: "Now 'John Doe', the anonymous source, has sent the SZ a manifesto, which can be read as an explanation of his actions - and as a call to action."
The source welcomed the fact that the leak had triggered a debate on "wrongdoing by the elite" but said not enough action had been taken.
"For the record, I do not work for any government or intelligence agency, directly or as a contractor, and I never have," he said.
The source was critical of banks, financial regulators, tax authorities, the courts, and the legal profession, as well as the media, saying he had offered the documents to several major media outlets that had chosen not to cover them.
"The collective impact of these failures has been a complete erosion of ethical standards, ultimately leading to a novel system we still call Capitalism, but which is tantamount to economic slavery."
The source ended the manifesto by saying "inexpensive, limitless digital storage and fast internet connections" should help digitise the revolution against income inequality.
Panama Papers source releases manifesto, says motivation was 'scale of injustices'
Reuters
First posted: Friday, May 06, 2016 02:39 PM EDT | Updated: Friday, May 06, 2016 02:58 PM EDT
Security guards are reflected by a door where placards featuring the portraits of Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping and British Prime Minister David Cameron are displayed by protesters, at the entrance of the regional head office of Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca in Hong Kong, Tuesday, April 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
BERLIN - Sueddeutsche Zeitung said on Friday that the source of millions of documents leaked to the German newspaper from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca had sent them a manifesto, saying his motivation was the "scale of injustices" the papers revealed.
The source had never before publicly stated why he leaked the documents, now known as the Panama Papers, said Sueddeutsche Zeitung (SZ), one of Germany's most reputable newspapers.
In an 1,800 word manifesto published on the SZ website on Friday, the source, calling himself "John Doe", praised others who have leaked secret and sensitive documents, such as Edward Snowden, who revealed details of the U.S. government's mass surveillance program.
"For his revelations about the National Security Agency (NSA), he deserves a hero's welcome and a substantial prize, not banishment," the source wrote.
He also said he would be willing to co-operate with law enforcement agencies.
READ THE MANIFESTO HERE.
He called on the European Commission, Britain, the United States and other nations to take steps to protect people who reveal private information about such sensitive issues rather than punishing them.
"Legitimate whistleblowers who expose unquestionable wrongdoing, whether insiders or outsiders, deserve immunity from government retribution, full stop," he said.
The source, who contacted the paper a year ago with an offer of encrypted internal documents from Mossack Fonseca, denied being a spy but said he had recognized the "scale of injustices" described in their contents.
The documents cover a period over almost 40 years, from 1977 until last December, and purport to show that some companies domiciled in tax havens were being used for suspected money laundering, arms and drug deals and tax evasion.
Reuters could not independently verify whether the source was the same person who leaked the original documents. The source's identity and gender is not known.
Sueddeutsche Zeitung spent more than a year, along with other media outlets and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, analysing the huge cache of documents.
On Friday, Sueddeutsche Zeitung introduced the manifesto by saying: "Now 'John Doe', the anonymous source, has sent the SZ a manifesto, which can be read as an explanation of his actions - and as a call to action."
The source welcomed the fact that the leak had triggered a debate on "wrongdoing by the elite" but said not enough action had been taken.
"For the record, I do not work for any government or intelligence agency, directly or as a contractor, and I never have," he said.
The source was critical of banks, financial regulators, tax authorities, the courts, and the legal profession, as well as the media, saying he had offered the documents to several major media outlets that had chosen not to cover them.
"The collective impact of these failures has been a complete erosion of ethical standards, ultimately leading to a novel system we still call Capitalism, but which is tantamount to economic slavery."
The source ended the manifesto by saying "inexpensive, limitless digital storage and fast internet connections" should help digitise the revolution against income inequality.
Re: New Panama Papers leak exposes relatives of President Xi, Jackie Chan, Putin aide
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1940986/core-macau-member-chinas-top-advisory-body-had-singaporean
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1940986/core-macau-member-chinas-top-advisory-body-had-singaporean
Re: New Panama Papers leak exposes relatives of President Xi, Jackie Chan, Putin aide
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1940984/son-law-ex-senior-chinese-leader-jia-qinglin-named
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1940984/son-law-ex-senior-chinese-leader-jia-qinglin-named
Re: New Panama Papers leak exposes relatives of President Xi, Jackie Chan, Putin aide
http://www.theguardian.com/news/2016/may/06/panama-papers-source-breaks-silence-over-scale-of-injustices
http://www.theguardian.com/news/2016/may/06/panama-papers-source-breaks-silence-over-scale-of-injustices
