LAUNDERING PROBE: Decision makers at law firm knew source of money – Lawyer
A TEAM of 13 decision makers at Panama law firm Mossack Fonseca (MF) knew the source of clients’ money and its final destination says a defendant in a money laundering case.
Lawyer María Mercedes Riaño, made the statement during investigations by special anti-corruption prosecutors for allegedly participating in money laundering activities through the MF branch in Brazil which she managed.
In her statement , Riaño said Ernesto González, Katia Solano, Edison Teano, Marisabel Robles, Sandra Cornejo, Sara Montenegro, Josette Roquebert, Luis Martínez, Rubén Hernández, José Gregorio and Chris Zollinger , along with the firm’s founders Ramón Fonseca Mora and Jürgen Mossack, were the decision makers.
Riaño said that the lawyers knew all the details of the societies they managed, even who the end beneficiaries were, and the origin of the money.
In addition, she said that they suggested the movements they had to make to avoid raising suspicions.
Riaño said that, contrary to what Fonseca Mora has said, the Brazilian office depended on the information of the parent company in Panama.
She said that while she had codes, she did not have full access to the files.
MF was the center of the Panama Papers scandal which exposed political and sports and business figures around the world attempting to evade taxes.
Ramon Fonseca was a senior figure in the Panamenista Party and close adviser to President Juan Carlos Varela. Jürgen Mossack served on a government committee.
