Absolution in the "Panama Papers" and "Lava Jato" cases shakes international justice.

A court in Panama has issued a verdict that has shaken the world of international justice and politics. In a decision that has surprised many, 28 individuals accused of money laundering in connection with the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca have been acquitted. Mossack Fonseca gained worldwide notoriety for its involvement in the "Panama Papers" scandal that erupted in 2016. Among those acquitted are the founders of the firm, Jürgen Mossack and Ramón Fonseca, the latter of whom recently passed away in a Panamanian hospital. Judge Baloísa Marquínez was responsible for delivering the verdict that absolves the accused of the crime against the economic order in the form of money laundering in the "Panama Papers" case. Furthermore, the verdict also exonerates all the accused of their alleged involvement in the "Lava Jato" case in Brazil, where the firm was accused of laundering money from bribes from Brazilian construction companies, including the giant Odebrecht. During this legal process, the judge decided to consolidate the "Panama Papers" and "Lava Jato" cases into a single trial, arguing that the crimes and the accused were the same. Throughout the trial, which took place from April 8 to 19 in Panama City, the prosecution requested harsh prison sentences, including 12 years for Mossack and Fonseca, the maximum penalty for money laundering, and between 5 and 12 years for the rest of the accused. However, Judge Marquínez determined that the evidence presented by the prosecution did not meet the chain of custody and did not guarantee its authenticity and integrity. Likewise, she considered that the remaining evidence was not sufficient or conclusive to establish the criminal responsibility of the accused, leading to the decision to acquit all the defendants in this high-profile case that has captured global attention. The origin of this scandal dates back to April 3, 2016, when the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) began publishing the "Panama Papers". This investigation, based on the leak of 11.5 million documents from Mossack Fonseca, revealed how personalities from around the world had used the firm to hide properties, companies, assets, and profits in order to evade taxes or launder money. The impact of the "Panama Papers" was immense, involving prominent figures such as the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and former leaders of several countries. The accusation against Mossack and Fonseca included facilitating the creation of opaque companies to conceal money from bribes and fraud, but the lack of conclusive evidence ultimately led to the acquittal of all the accused in this case that has called into question Panama's reputation as a tax haven. Following the closure of the Mossack Fonseca firm and the controversy generated by this international scandal, the acquittal of the accused has sparked mixed reactions. While some celebrate the judicial decision as an act of justice, others believe a great injustice has been committed by not being able to prove the responsibility of the accused. Amidst this situation, the complexity and importance of the fight against money laundering and tax evasion on a global scale are highlighted.