Panama Papers: Court acquits all 28 charged with money laundering

Judges rule evidence was "not sufficient" in the trial that took testimony from 27 witnesses.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUK General ElectionUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersPanama Papers: Court acquits all 28 charged with money laundering7 hours agoBy Anna Lamche, BBC NewsShareMARTIN BERNETTI/AFP via Getty ImagesJurgen Mossack was one of the main defendants in the Panama Papers caseA Panamanian court has acquitted all 28 people charged with money laundering in connection with the Panama Papers scandal, concluding a trial that began in April.

The secret financial documents were leaked in 2016, revealing how some of the world's richest and most powerful people use tax havens to hide their wealth.

Among those exonerated were Jurgen Mossack and the late Ramon Fonseca, founder of Mossack Fonseca, the defunct law firm at the centre of the scandal.

Judge Baloisa Marquinez said the evidence considered by the court was "not sufficient" to determine the criminal responsibility of the defendants.

During the trial, the prosecution sought the maximum sentence of 12 years for money laundering for both Mr Mossack and Mr Fonseca, who died in hospital in May.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjer3llen42o

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