German paper publishes 'manifesto' from Panama leak source

BERLIN (AP) — A German newspaper that obtained leaked files from a Panamanian law firm detailing offshore financial dealings published Friday what it said is a manifesto from its anonymous source, who described having been moved to act by "the scale of the injustices" the documents show.

The daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung was offered the leaked data over a year ago through an encrypted channel by the source, and started publishing material last month along with other outlets it shared the information with. It said it has now received a manifesto from its source, the self-described "John Doe," though it didn't specify how and when. It couldn't immediately be reached for further details.

The repercussions of the leaked documents from law firm Mossack Fonseca have been far-ranging. The uproar led to the resignation of the prime minister of Iceland, and brought scrutiny to, among others, the leaders of Argentina and Ukraine, Chinese politicians, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his friends.

The piece published Friday says the papers "show beyond a shadow of a doubt that although shell companies are not illegal by definition, they are used to carry out a wide array of serious crimes that go beyond evading taxes."

Its author writes: "I decided to expose Mossack Fonseca because I thought its founders, employees and clients should have to answer for their roles in these crimes, only some of which have come to light thus far."

The manifesto says "a new global debate has started, which is encouraging."

It doesn't shed light on how the source obtained the documents.

Its author says: "For the record, I do not work for any government or intelligence agency, directly or as a contractor, and I never have," and adds that the reason for sharing the documents was "not ... any specific political purpose, but simply because I understood enough about their contents to realize the scale of the injustices they described."

The author "would be willing to cooperate with law enforcement to the extent that I am able."

-- (c) Associated Press 2016-05-07

Why haven't they just released the whole dump to the world instead of to a handful of journos?

Publish and be damned!

slowly but surely we are seeing evidence of how rotten greedy and corrupt the world really is, something I never doubted, time to name them shame them and present them to the justice systems around the world confiscate their ill-gotten gains and lock them up

slowly but surely we are seeing evidence of how rotten greedy and corrupt the world really is, something I never doubted, time to name them shame them and present them to the justice systems around the world confiscate their ill-gotten gains and lock them up

They have been named already, several weeks ago the list was published.

This is not about "ill-gotten gains" or corruption, there have never been accusations of that except by people who do not understand the legality of offshore business.

The company involved in the setting up of offshore businesses and accounts was doing nothing illegal and clients who used these services obviously should not have their assets confiscated or be imprisoned unless it has been proven in a court that they committed an offence. So far there is no evidence of that happening.

slowly but surely we are seeing evidence of how rotten greedy and corrupt the world really is, something I never doubted, time to name them shame them and present them to the justice systems around the world confiscate their ill-gotten gains and lock them up

They have been named already, several weeks ago the list was published.

This is not about "ill-gotten gains" or corruption, there have never been accusations of that except by people who do not understand the legality of offshore business.

The company involved in the setting up of offshore businesses and accounts was doing nothing illegal and clients who used these services obviously should not have their assets confiscated or be imprisoned unless it has been proven in a court that they committed an offence. So far there is no evidence of that happening.

it might well be on the fringe of being legal but that doesn't make it ethically correct or right, people who have a need to hide funds - launder money - and use such facilities are doing it for a reason and one of the reasons is tax evasion and to hide funds they have possibly accumulated illegally

Was reading that the guy that started that Panama law firm was a former member of the Waffen SS, so had impeccable credentials.

That he also apparently worked with the CIA is hardly surprising, but could shed some light on what is really going on with these wealthy tax dodger releases that included almost no Americans.

slowly but surely we are seeing evidence of how rotten greedy and corrupt the world really is, something I never doubted, time to name them shame them and present them to the justice systems around the world confiscate their ill-gotten gains and lock them up

They have been named already, several weeks ago the list was published.

This is not about "ill-gotten gains" or corruption, there have never been accusations of that except by people who do not understand the legality of offshore business.

The company involved in the setting up of offshore businesses and accounts was doing nothing illegal and clients who used these services obviously should not have their assets confiscated or be imprisoned unless it has been proven in a court that they committed an offence. So far there is no evidence of that happening.

Legality becomes a moot point when the people who benefit from the facilities are the very ones who legislate to allow them.

Was reading that the guy that started that Panama law firm was a former member of the Waffen SS, so had impeccable credentials.

That he also apparently worked with the CIA is hardly surprising, but could shed some light on what is really going on with these wealthy tax dodger releases that included almost no Americans.

Yep, look at who may be benefiting from the release of the papers.