Investigations of those named in leaked documents of the Panama Papers are set to begin, the Prosecutor General has announced.
Jorge Perdomo indicated that investigations would begin as soon as he received a report from DIAN, the government tax body, highlighting which of the named people and companies may be involved in money laundering.
“The DIAN will be the first that informs us if some of these people cannot justify the origin of their funds that were invested.”
The most recent revelations from the Panama Papers revealed at total of 1,245 Colombians to be clients of Mossack Fonseca.
Panama Papers reveal 1,245 Colombians have accounts in tax havens
Perdomo emphasised that just because someone has appeared in the leaked documents does not mean they are guilty of a crime.
“The first thing we have to do in the Prosecution is begin to cross those listed with the people who are being investigated in the country for money laundering and illegal enrichment, so we can determine if there is some sort of connection.”
Prosecutor General Jorge Perdomo
This will solidify the cases against those already suspected, but hopefully they will not limit their investigations to this method.
Some of those listed in the Panama Papers may, after all, be new suspects.
The who’s who of Colombia’s tax-avoiding elite
