A Panamanian court has acquitted 28 people charged with money laundering at the centre of the ‘Panama Papers’ scandal, said the country’s judicial branch, in a statement on Friday (Jun 28). This comes after the judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence to conclusively determine the criminal responsibility of those charged.&nbsp;

<h2>What did the court say?</h2>

The court said that Judge Baloisa Marquinez, who was presiding over the trial, has “acquitted 28 people accused...of money laundering” relating to the now-defunct Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca.&nbsp;

The trial which was held in Panama City in April was linked to the Panama Papers and Operation Car Wash scandals where 28 people were facing charges over their role in allegedly setting up shell companies involved in bribery and corruption in Brazil and Germany.&nbsp;

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Jurgen Mossack, a German national and one of the founders of the Panamanian law firm which featured prominently in the Panama Papers investigation, was among those who were acquitted.&nbsp;

Ramon Fonseca, the other founder of Mossack Fonseca, died in May after being hospitalised since early April. Since he died before the trial concluded the case against him has been dismissed.&nbsp;

The prosecution had sought 12 years in prison, the maximum sentence for money laundering, for the duo.&nbsp;

However, the judge ruled that the evidence collected from the law firm’s servers had not been gathered in line with due process, casting doubt over its “authenticity and integrity”.&nbsp;

Marquinez in his verdict also noted that the “rest of the evidence was not sufficient and conclusive to determine the criminal responsibility of the defendants.”&nbsp;

The judge also ordered that precautionary measures be lifted against all the defendants and noted that the criminal process for one defendant was cancelled due to their death.&nbsp;

Marquinez ordered fines worth&nbsp;100 balboas ($100) each on 10 witnesses who did not comply with summonses.&nbsp;

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In connection to Operation Car Wash, a massive anti-corruption probe which began in Brazil, the judge ruled that it could not be determined that money from illicit sources had entered Panama from the South American country in a bid to help conceal crimes.&nbsp;

<h2>About the case</h2>

The now-defunct law firm came under scrutiny in 2016 after its leaked confidential documents exposed that many of the world’s wealthy stashed assets in offshore companies and triggered dozens of investigations across the world.&nbsp;

Other big names linked to this scandal included former Argentine President Mauricio Macri, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, former British Prime Minister David Cameron, and Argentine football star Lionel Messi.

(With inputs from agencies) 
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A Panamanian court has acquitted 28 people charged with money laundering at the centre of the ‘Panama Papers’ scandal, said the country’s judicial branch, in a statement on Friday (Jun 28).

A Panamanian court has acquitted 28 people charged with money laundering at the centre of the ‘Panama Papers’ scandal, said the country’s judicial branch, in a statement on Friday (Jun 28). This comes after the judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence to conclusively determine the criminal responsibility of those charged. What did the court say? The court said that Judge Baloisa Marquinez, who was presiding over the trial, has “acquitted 28 people accused...of money laundering” relating to the now-defunct Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca. The trial which was held in Panama City in April was linked to the Panama Papers and Operation Car Wash scandals where 28 people were facing charges over their role in allegedly setting up shell companies involved in bribery and corruption in Brazil and Germany. Also Read | Pentagon removes US aid pier from Gaza due to high sea conditions Jurgen Mossack, a German national and one of the founders of the Panamanian law firm which featured prominently in the Panama Papers investigation, was among those who were acquitted. Ramon Fonseca, the other founder of Mossack Fonseca, died in May after being hospitalised since early April. Since he died before the trial concluded the case against him has been dismissed. The prosecution had sought 12 years in prison, the maximum sentence for money laundering, for the duo. However, the judge ruled that the evidence collected from the law firm’s servers had not been gathered in line with due process, casting doubt over its “authenticity and integrity”. Marquinez in his verdict also noted that the “rest of the evidence was not sufficient and conclusive to determine the criminal responsibility of the defendants.” The judge also ordered that precautionary measures be lifted against all the defendants and noted that the criminal process for one defendant was cancelled due to their death. Marquinez ordered fines worth 100 balboas ($100) each on 10 witnesses who did not comply with summonses. Also Read | Bolivian general, other suspected leaders of failed coup get six months pre-trial detention In connection to Operation Car Wash, a massive anti-corruption probe which began in Brazil, the judge ruled that it could not be determined that money from illicit sources had entered Panama from the South American country in a bid to help conceal crimes. About the case The now-defunct law firm came under scrutiny in 2016 after its leaked confidential documents exposed that many of the world’s wealthy stashed assets in offshore companies and triggered dozens of investigations across the world. Other big names linked to this scandal included former Argentine President Mauricio Macri, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, former British Prime Minister David Cameron, and Argentine football star Lionel Messi. (With inputs from agencies)

Panama Papers trial: Panamanian court acquits 28 defendants due to ‘insufficient’ evidence

Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan appeared in front of Enforcement Directorate in connection with the Panama paper leak case on Monday. The actress has allegedly violated the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).&nbsp; 
 
She was summoned by the ED a few days back.&nbsp;Rai reached ED's Jamnagar House office in the national capital.&nbsp; 
 
The agency was required to record the statement of the 48-year-old actress in the case over allegations of stashing wealth abroad under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999. 
 
This isn't the first time that the actress has been summoned in the case. 
 
She was summoned earlier on two occasions. However, she didn't join the probe. Earlier on November 9, Aishwarya was summoned to record her testimony in the case.&nbsp; 
 
The ED had lodged a case under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) after the Panama Papers showed how companies were set up in offshore islands to avoid taxes. 
 
The Panama Papers pertain to leaked documents that point towards fraud and tax evasion by many individuals and corporate entities across the world. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan`s name featured in the list of 500 Indians who were named in the massive leak of 11.5 million tax documents exposing their secret offshore dealings

(With inputs from agencies)

Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan appeared in front of Enforcement Directorate in connection with the Panama paper leak case on Monday. The actress has allegedly violated the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan appeared in front of Enforcement Directorate in connection with the Panama paper leak case on Monday. The actress has allegedly violated the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). She was summoned by the ED a few days back. Rai reached ED's Jamnagar House office in the national capital. The agency was required to record the statement of the 48-year-old actress in the case over allegations of stashing wealth abroad under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999. This isn't the first time that the actress has been summoned in the case. She was summoned earlier on two occasions. However, she didn't join the probe. Earlier on November 9, Aishwarya was summoned to record her testimony in the case. The ED had lodged a case under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) after the Panama Papers showed how companies were set up in offshore islands to avoid taxes. The Panama Papers pertain to leaked documents that point towards fraud and tax evasion by many individuals and corporate entities across the world. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan`s name featured in the list of 500 Indians who were named in the massive leak of 11.5 million tax documents exposing their secret offshore dealings (With inputs from agencies)

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan summoned by ED for Panama Paper leak case

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Panama Papers trial: Panamanian court acquits 28 defendants due to ‘insufficient’ evidence

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan summoned by ED for Panama Paper leak case