Venezuela,Panama team up in Mossack Fonseca probe

PROSECUTORS in Venezuela and Panama have teamed up  to investigate the law firm Mossack Fonseca, center of the Panama Papers scandal  says Venezuelan Prosecutor General Luisa Ortega.

“I sent a communication to the attorney general of Panama and we formed a joint team of prosecutors in Panama and Venezuela to investigate those cases,” said the official in an interview broadcast Sunday,June 26.

Ortega said that the findings of her office “involve many people who are being investigated at this time,” one of whom has already been arrested.

She  said that 23 properties have already  been seized.

On April 15, Venezuelan authorities arrested businessman Josmel Velásquez, who is accused of financial crimes based on information that was leaked from the law firm.

Velásquez is the brother of retired Army Captain Adrian Velásquez. He is linked to companies in the Seychelles, Panama and Venezuela.

Panama has also has calls from Switzerland, Brazil, and other countries for help in their investigations sparked by the release of The Panama Papers.