Profile in Focus | The Panama Papers Part 9 (July 2018 - December 2018)
Russia Is A Terrorist State: Part 3 (2011 - 2016)
Profile in Focus | The Panama Papers Part 9 (July 2018 - December 2018)
“Joseph Muscat, Prime Minister, Malta; Jüri Ratas, Prime Minister, Estonia” by Raul Mee (EU2017EE) of the EU2017EE Estonian Presidency from Joseph Muscat and Jüri Ratas under CC BY 2.0.
The Panama Papers scandal continued to unfold in the latter half of 2018, revealing more corruption, legal repercussions, and global investigations. In July, former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was sentenced to 10 years in prison over corruption charges related to the Panama Papers. This high-profile case demonstrated the significant impact of the leaks and the consequences faced by powerful individuals involved in illicit financial activities.
The investigation into the car bombing that killed Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia progressed, and in July, the Maltese Prime Minister was cleared of any wrongdoing in her assassination. However, an inquiry later determined that Malta was responsible for her death, raising questions about the involvement of the government in silencing critical voices.
In August, a second leak of Panama Papers documents occurred, further exposing offshore secrets and revealing the extent of global financial networks involved. The leaks shed light on the international scope of the scandal and prompted investigations in various countries.
Algeria launched a money laundering probe based on information from the Panama Papers, highlighting how the leaks had far-reaching implications beyond the initial exposure of offshore accounts. The scandal continued to spark investigations and legal actions in different parts of the world.
"The Laundromat," a film based on the Panama Papers, was released on Netflix in October. The movie raised awareness about the scandal and brought it to a wider audience. The cultural impact of the Panama Papers continued to grow as media outlets and filmmakers explored the intricate web of corruption and financial manipulation exposed by the leaks.
In November, Deutsche Bank, one of the world's largest financial institutions, faced a raid by German police as part of a money laundering investigation connected to the Panama Papers. The raid and subsequent criminal probe signaled the serious repercussions faced by major banks implicated in facilitating illicit financial activities.
In the United States, four defendants were charged in connection with the Panama Papers investigation. This marked the first charges brought by U.S. prosecutors related to the scandal. The charges included fraud and tax evasion, highlighting the ongoing efforts to hold individuals accountable for their involvement in the global scheme to defraud the United States.
As the year came to a close, the Panama Papers continued to captivate the world's attention. The leaks exposed the inner workings of a corrupt financial system, revealing the extent of fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion. The investigations and legal actions triggered by the scandal demonstrated the determination to uncover the truth and seek justice.
The Panama Papers had far-reaching consequences, from political and legal upheavals to the cultural impact on films and documentaries. The leaks served as a wake-up call, exposing the dark side of the global financial system and prompting discussions about the need for greater transparency and accountability. The story of the Panama Papers was far from over, and the world eagerly awaited further developments in the pursuit of truth and justice.
Written in part in collaboration with ChatGPT on June 13, 2023
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Next: Profile in Focus | The Panama Papers Part 10 (January 2019 - July 2019)
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Putin Is A War Criminal
Russia Is A Terrorist State:
Part 1 (1990s)
Part 2 (2000s)
Part 3 (2011 - 2016)
Part 4 (2016 - 2019)
Part 5 (2020 - 2021)
Part 6: (2022+)
Sources for Profile in Focus | The Panama Papers Part 9 (July 2018 - December 2018):
Russia’s Kleptocracy Laid Bare - The American Interest July 6, 2018
Ex-Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif sentenced to 10 years over corruption - Al Jazeera July 6, 2018
Pakistan ex-PM Nawaz Sharif given 10-year jail term - BBC News July 6, 2018
Who Ordered The Car Bomb That Killed Maltese Journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia? - NPR July 22, 2018
Panama papers: Maltese prime minister cleared of wrongdoing - The Guardian July 22, 2018
Film Review: ‘The Panama Papers’ - VARIETY October 9, 2018
Spanish court agrees to extradition of Hugo Chavez’s aide - AP News October 26, 2018
Why Daniel Kretinsky uses tax havens - Le Monde November 8, 2018
Capturing ‘The Panama Papers’ on film - poynter. November 21, 2018
The group behind the Panama Papers has a new investigation - poynter. November 26, 2018
Deutsche Bank offices raided in money laundering probe - Reuters November 29, 2018
German police raid Deutsche Bank over money laundering - DW November 29, 2018
Deutsche Bank Offices Are Raided In Money Laundering Probe - NPR November 29, 2018
Deutsche Bank investors fear criminal probe will hinder turnround - Financial Times December 2, 2018
Panama Papers: Four charged in US with fraud and tax evasion - BBC News December 4, 2018