This is not the first time that Germany has rewarded data thieves for information on tax dodgers. The Swizz banks called it a modern form of bank robbery [editorial comment].
The German Federal Criminal Police Office said recently that it has purchased the vast amount of leaked data known as the Panama Papers, which revealed the legally dubious offshore activities of celebrities, politicians and sports stars last year.
While the BKA would not disclose details about the purchase, government sources told DPA that the data had been bought from a “source” within the past year for €5 million.
The Panama Papers created a stir worldwide last year when German newspaper the Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ), along with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), published details of the 11.5 million leaked documents from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca.
The documents revealed financial information of people like the Saudi Arabian King, Argentine football star Lionel Messi, and the father of former UK Prime Minister David Cameron.
Though setting up offshore or shell companies is not itself illegal, the reporters found that some of these firms created by Mossack Fonseca were used for illegal purposes, such as fraud, tax evasion, money laundering, or evading international sanctions.
“Owning an offshore company isn’t illegal,” the SZ wrote at the time. “There is a string of businesses for which it seems logical… but if you look around in the Panama Papers, you quickly realize that in the vast majority of cases it’s about concealing the real owners of the companies.”
The BKA now plans to use the data to fight money laundering and tax fraud. The criminal investigations agency is sharing the data with Hesse state finance authorities for review, and they will then pursue criminal and fiscal findings based on this analysis. The evaluation is expected to last several months.
The agencies will also be working closely with relevant authorities in cases of potential violations involving other countries. “We not only have the capability, but also the political will to decidedly lead the fight against tax crimes,” said Hesse finance minister Thomas Schäfer.
Source: Thelocal.de
