Tribunal in Panama acquits those involved in the "Panama Papers" case, sparking controversy and doubts about the judicial system.

A court in Panama acquitted 28 people this Friday in relation to the money laundering case linked 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, in charge of the case, issued the decision to absolve the accused in a ruling that has sparked surprise and controversy in the country. Among those acquitted are the founders of the law firm, Jürgen Mossack and Ramón Fonseca, the latter of whom recently passed away in a Panamanian hospital. The news of the acquittal has been met with various reactions from the public and legal experts in Panama and internationally. The ruling also includes the acquittal of all the defendants in the "Lava Jato" case in Brazil, in which Mossack Fonseca was accused of laundering money from bribes paid by Brazilian construction companies, such as Odebrecht, to officials in several Latin American countries in exchange for contracts. Judge Marquínez decided to consolidate both cases into one, considering that the crimes and defendants were related. In the "Lava Jato" case, the ruling concluded that it could not be determined that illicit money entered the Panamanian financial system, which has led to criticism and questions about the effectiveness of the investigation and judicial process in this case. The decision to acquit the accused has sparked controversy and doubts about the transparency and effectiveness of the judicial system in Panama. During the "Panama Papers" trial, the prosecution had requested sentences of up to 12 years in prison for Mossack and Fonseca for money laundering, based on the evidence collected during the investigation. However, Judge Marquínez deemed that the evidence presented was not sufficient to prove the criminal responsibility of the accused, which has been a subject of debate and controversy in the legal sphere. The "Panama Papers" scandal stemmed from a leak of documents from the Mossack Fonseca law firm, which revealed how personalities from around the world were using opaque companies to evade taxes and launder money. The impact of this scandal transcended borders and tarnished Panama's reputation as a tax haven, leading to consequences both nationally and internationally. The closure of Mossack Fonseca and the global repercussions of the "Panama Papers" marked a turning point in Panama's perception in the financial and legal realms. The acquittal of the accused in this case represents an unexpected twist in a judicial process that has held the public's attention for years, raising questions about the effectiveness of investigations and administration of justice in the country.