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A security personnel walks past the office of Mossack Fonseca law firm
Image: Alejandro Bolivar/EFE/dpa/picture-allianceImage: Alejandro Bolivar/EFE/dpa/picture-alliance

Panama Papers

The leak of 11.5 million documents from the Panama-based service provider Mossack Fonseca, once the world's fourth-biggest offshore law firm, shows how some of the world's most famous use tax havens to hide their wealth.

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All Content on this topic

A sign of Panama against the skyline of Panama City

Panama court acquits 28 in Panama Papers trial

The defendants were accused of money laundering in cases linked to the Panama Papers and "Operation Car Wash" scandals.
Law and JusticeJune 29, 2024
Ramon Fonseca

Panama Papers law firm boss Ramon Fonseca dies mid-trial

He was a partner of the law firm Mossack Fonseca, until it closed in the wake of the Panama Papers revelations.
May 10, 2024
Jurgen Rolf Dieter Mossack, co-founder of former law firm Mossack Fonseca, departs the Panamanian Supreme Court of Justice

'Panama Papers' trial starts 8 years after global scandal

The criminal trial for the "Panama Papers" financial scandal has begun, eight years after illegal acts were uncovered.
CorruptionApril 9, 202401:46 min
A police officer stands outside the now defunct Mossack Fonseca law firm in Panama City in 2016

Panama Papers trial gets underway with 27 suspects charged

Those among the 27 people on trial include founders of the Mossack-Fonseca law firm.
CrimeApril 8, 2024
Sergey Roldugin

Putin friend allegedly moved millions through Swiss accounts

Prosecutors made the comments in a trial of four bankers accused of helping Russian cellist Sergey Roldugin.
PoliticsMarch 8, 2023
Bastian Obermayer

Pandora Papers revelations can weaken democracy

Bastian Obermayer
The Pandora Papers — the latest leak to expose tax evasion, power and avarice — could undermine trust in institutions.
PoliticsOctober 9, 2021
Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan speaks in Islamabad

How will the Pandora Papers affect Pakistan's politics?

Experts are skeptical that a thorough probe will be carried out, although some officials surrounding the PM were named.
PoliticsOctober 5, 2021
A picture split into three sections showing Tony Blair in suit; Shakira smiling; and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a suit

Pandora Papers open the box of offshore secrets

The Pandora Papers, a new investigation from ICIJ, are published by 150 media organizations, including DW Turkish.
PoliticsOctober 3, 2021
Panama Facts & Figures

Restoring rainforest for the Panama Canal

Green investment in agroforestry is helping restore Panama's forests, and the country’s famous canal could benefit, too.
Nature and EnvironmentNovember 3, 2020
A sign for the firm Mossack Fonseca

Germany issues warrants for Panama Papers lawyers

German prosecutors are looking for those behind the law firm at the center of the tax haven scandal, say reports.
CrimeOctober 20, 2020
A memorial features the murdered journalist with the words 'Daphne was right'

Daphne Caruana Galizia: The woman who 'broke the mold'

A dedicated journalist and fearless fighter for human rights, Daphne Caruana Galizia would have been 55 on August 26. 
MediaAugust 23, 2019
German police take part in November raid on Deutsche Bank offices

German banks targeted in nationwide raids

German tax authorities raided the offices of several banks, tax consultants and wealthy people across the country.
PoliticsMay 15, 2019
Türkei Istanbul Reporer ohne Grenzen protestieren

Turkey sentences DW journalist

A court in Istanbul has sentenced Pelin Unker to 13 months in prison over her "Paradise Papers" reports.
January 9, 201901:52 min
Pelin Ünker

Turkish court hands jail term to DW reporter

Pelin Unker reported an alleged link between a former Turkish premier and an offshore account.
Law and JusticeJanuary 9, 2019
The word Panama on a mail box

Panama Papers: Two Germans charged in US with tax fraud

Federal authorities have charged four men with tax evasion in the first US prosecution over the Panama Papers scandal.
CrimeDecember 5, 2018
Frankfurt Razzia bei Zentrale Deutsche Bank

Deutsche Bank searched for second day

Police have continued to search Deutsche Bank premises in a money-laundering probe linked to the Panama Papers scandal.
BusinessNovember 30, 2018
Sharif's supporters celebrate court's order in Islamabad

Pakistan: Sharif's release spells trouble for PM Khan

A court order to release Nawaz Sharif could pose a serious political challenge to Prime Minister Imran Khan.
PoliticsSeptember 19, 2018
Maryam Nawaz

Maryam Nawaz, challenging Pakistan's powerful army

Some analysts have dubbed her the "new Benazir Bhutto" for confronting the military. Will she live up to her image?
PoliticsJuly 10, 2018
Former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif

Former Pakistan PM Sharif gets 10 years in prison

Sharif's supporters say the court's verdict is an attempt by the judiciary and powerful army to influence July 25 polls.
PoliticsJuly 6, 2018
Emilia Diaz-Struck

WorldLink: Reading between the lines

A keen eye for data discrepancies has seen spreadsheet whiz Emilia Diaz-Struck help launch major global investigations.
PoliticsJune 15, 201808:27 min
Symbolbild Panama Papers

Germany's extra haul from 'Panama Papers'

Two German states using disclosures from the Panama Papers have hauled in €130 million in fines and evaded taxes.
CrimeApril 27, 2018
EU Commission VP Frans Timmermans

EU moves to protect whistleblowers

The European Commission has proposed protective measures to ensure whistleblowers can safely report unlawful activity.
Law and JusticeApril 23, 2018
Former Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif

Pakistan needs ex-PM Sharif's political role

The Supreme Court's move to ban ex-PM Sharif from politics has reinforced pre-poll rigging claims, says Shamil Shams.
PoliticsApril 13, 2018
Nawaz Sharif

Pakistan's Sharif gets lifetime politics ban

Pakistan's Supreme Court has disqualified deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from ever holding office.
PoliticsApril 13, 2018
The offices of Mossack Fonseca in Panama

Panama Papers law firm to shut down

A key player in the "Panama Papers" saga is facing closure two years after the global tax evasion scandal broke.
BusinessMarch 15, 2018
Petro Poroshenko is pictured in Munich in 2017

The Ukrainian president's transparency problem

Petro Poroshenko has been exposed: His companies, it seems, are not abiding by Germany's new transparency rules.
BusinessJanuary 25, 2018
Activists perform as clients of an offshore company

EU ministers remove Panama from tax haven blacklist

Officials and activists have decried a decision by EU ministers to remove several states from a tax haven blacklist.
PoliticsJanuary 23, 2018
DW Zitattafel Chris Fearne

Malta’s Deputy PM: 'Freedom of expression is threatened'

Is Malta turning into a mafia haven? Tim Sebastian meets Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne.
PoliticsDecember 14, 2017
DW Zitattafel Chris Fearne

Chris Fearne on Conflict Zone

Has the Maltese government allowed the emergence of a mafia haven? Tim Sebastian meets Malta's Deputy Prime Minister.
PoliticsDecember 14, 201726:05 min
A building in Malta with banners reading Mafia state

Maltese want EU help

In the wake of the Paradise Papers leaks, many locals in Malta are calling on the EU to come to the rescue.
PoliticsNovember 16, 2017
Globus mit Geldscheinen

The biggest tax evasion data leaks in history

The Paradise Papers shed more light on the complicated world of tax evasion. Here are the biggest data leaks in history.
Law and JusticeNovember 7, 2017
Red piggy bank

Germans featured in Paradise Papers

The Paradise Papers have shown that many Germans are among those who park their money in tax havens.
BusinessNovember 6, 2017
Paradise Papers, a man carrying a black briefcase

Offshore: the legal and the not so legal

The Paradise Papers data release raise many questions, but are they questions of ethics as much as anything else?
BusinessNovember 6, 2017
Tax paradise

Paradise Papers — what you need to know

The Paradise Papers have uncovered the complex world of global tax avoidance — and this is just the beginning.
BusinessNovember 6, 2017
Journalisten demonstrieren nach Mord an Daphne Caruana Galizia in Valletta, Malta

EU delegation to probe Malta corruption

The European parliament will send a delegation to Malta to probe how rule of law is applied, a senior MEP says.
Law and JusticeOctober 26, 2017
external

Maltese rally for slain reporter

Demonstrators called for those behind the death of journalist Daphne Galizia to be brought to justice.
October 23, 201701:57 min

Malta demands justice for slain reporter

In a national outpouring of grief, thousands took to the streets to memorialize journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
PoliticsOctober 22, 2017
Malta Valetta Demonstration von Journalisten nach Mord an Journalistin Daphne Caruana Galizia

Inside Europe: Is Malta a mafia state?

The picture of Malta painted by murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia seems to be one of an island rife with corruption. Something akin to a Mafia state. But is it? Transparency International is a global coalition against corruption. Max Heywood is on it’s grand corruption and anti-money laundering team. He explains where Malta stand in an index of corruption and transparency?
PoliticsOctober 20, 201705:50 min
Maltesische Bloggerin getötet Daphne Caruana Galizia

Inside Europe: 'She was a fearsome journalist...'

Malta was shocked by a car bomb on Monday which killed local journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. She was part of the Panama Papers investigation and had been writing in newspapers and on her blog about corruption, politics, organized crime and high finance for years. British journalist Paul Dallison worked for several years alongside Caruana Galizia and describes her as a person and a journalist.
PoliticsOctober 20, 201703:24 min
a letterbox stuffed with money against island backdrop

EU states complicit in money laundering

For years European governments have allegedly been complicit in money laundering and tax evasion schemes.
PoliticsOctober 19, 2017
Pakistan: Nawaz Sharif

Pakistani court indicts ex-PM Sharif on corruption charges

The corruption case stems from the 2016 leak of the Panama Papers.
PoliticsOctober 19, 2017
Screenshot pdf The Plunder Route to Panama

Panama Papers: Africa's elite are plundering their countries

Africa's politicians are systematically siphoning off billions of dollars and funneling the money offshore.
PoliticsOctober 18, 2017
Daphne Capuana Galizia

Malta blogger killed in car bomb attack

Galizia, an investigative journalist who accused the government of corruption, has died after a bomb destroyed her car.
CrimeOctober 16, 2017
Panama Papers Mossack Fonseca

Germany carries out Panama Papers raids

German officials have reportedly seized €2 million from funds embezzled by a former manager at Siemens.
CrimeOctober 11, 2017
Supporters of former Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif

A 'referendum' against army's role in politics

Experts say the by-election result was a blow to the powerful army that wants to minimize Sharif's role in politics.
PoliticsSeptember 18, 2017
Pakistan Islamabad - Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

Pakistan elects interim prime minister

Former Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has been elected as Pakistan's interim prime minister.
PoliticsAugust 1, 2017
Shahbaz Sharif

Nawaz Sharif's brother next Pakistani PM

Pakistan's ruling party has nominated Shahbaz Sharif as candidate for the premiership after his brother was ousted.
PoliticsJuly 29, 2017

A 'judicial coup' in Pakistan

Raza Rumi
Analyst Raza Rumi says Sharif paid the price for his own mistakes as well as challenging army generals in the past.
PoliticsJuly 28, 2017
Pakistan Premierminister Nawaz Sharif

Pakistani court topples PM Nawaz Sharif

Pro-democracy activists say the verdict against PM Sharif was politically motivated and a setback for democracy.
PoliticsJuly 28, 2017
Pakistan Nawaz Sharif

Pakistani PM's aide calls for international support

Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, a member of Pakistan's ruling party, accuses "anti-democratic" forces of trying to oust PM Sharif.
PoliticsJuly 18, 2017