Acquitted in Panama accused in Panama Papers and Lava Jato: controversy resurfaces

A court in Panama acquitted 28 people accused of money laundering related to the now-defunct Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, the epicenter of the international scandal known as the Panama Papers that erupted in 2016. Judge Baloísa Marquínez made the decision to absolve the defendants of the crime against the economic order in the form of money laundering in connection with the leaked documents that shook the world five years ago. Among those acquitted are the founders of the law firm, Jürgen Mossack and Ramón Fonseca, the latter of whom passed away in a Panamanian hospital in May of this year. The ruling also clears the accused in the Lava Jato case in Brazil, where the law firm was accused of laundering money from bribes paid by Brazilian construction companies, including Odebrecht, to secure contracts with officials in Latin America. The judge's decision to consolidate the Panama Papers and Lava Jato cases into one single case was based on the fact that the crimes and defendants were the same. In both instances, the justice system could not prove the entry of illicit money into the Panamanian financial system, resulting in the acquittal of the accused. During the trial, the prosecution requested harsh prison sentences, but Judge Marquínez deemed that the evidence did not meet the required standards. The legal process lasted for eight years since the reports from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists based on the massive leak of documents from Mossack Fonseca were made public in 2016. The investigation revealed how individuals worldwide used opaque companies to evade taxes and launder money, including figures such as Russian President Vladimir Putin and footballer Lionel Messi. The acquittal of the accused has sparked mixed reactions. On one hand, lawyer Guillermina Mc Donald, representing Mossack and other defendants, expressed satisfaction with the judge's decision. However, she also expressed sadness over the loss of Ramón Fonseca before the verdict was known. Following the Panama Papers scandal, Mossack Fonseca closed its operations and Panama's reputation as a tax haven was negatively affected. In statements after the trial, Jürgen Mossack stated he was satisfied with the resolution, defending the honesty and seriousness of his work and that of those who collaborated with him. The judicial decision has stirred divided opinions among those who believe justice has been served and those who think a great injustice has been committed. The controversy surrounding the Panama Papers seems far from over.