Russian Cellist, Lionel Messi and other VIPs Cleared of Money Laundering Charges in Panama Papers Case

In a major blow to the Panamanian judiciary, all those accused of money laundering in the so-called Panama Papers have been acquitted. The case involved 28 individuals, including Jurgen Mossack, one of the founders of the Mossack Fonseca company that was at the center of the scandal. The case against Ramon Fonseca, who passed away a month ago, was also dropped.

The Panama Papers, based on an analysis of internal Mossack Fonseca documents, were published in 2016 and exposed connections between world leaders and offshore companies. The documents revealed that the company had assisted powerful individuals in making tens of millions of dollars through offshore companies. The case materials mentioned associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin, former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The documents also included names like footballer Lionel Messi and director Pedro Almodóvar.

Russian cellist Sergei Roldugin, a friend of Putin, came into the spotlight in connection with this case as well. He was found to own several offshore companies worth billions of dollars.

The acquitted individuals in this case were involved in various industries and included manufacturers and suppliers of pipes and steel products operating in Dubai and other countries in the Middle East. They were associated with companies dealing with materials like Inconel, Carbon Steel, Titanium, Stainless Steel and other steel products used in construction projects around the world.