‘Pandora Papers’ shed more light on activities of Swiss financial advisors
Tax havens link up with a network of financial advisors and banks in numerous countries to funnel assets around the world.
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
A new set of leaked documents, dubbed the Pandora Papers, has again exposed the role of Swiss lawyers, accountants and consultants in managing the wealth of powerful clients.
This content was published on
1 minute
swissinfo.ch/mga
Español
es
Papeles de Pandora exponen actividades de asesores suizos
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) has revealed the contents of 11.9 million tax haven documents relating to the financial affairs of political leaders and other figures.
The leaked documents include details of how vast sums of money circulate around the world, including Switzerland, via opaque financial structures.
For example, one lawyer in central Switzerland tended to over 60 postbox firms on behalf of powerful people, including the president of Azerbaijan.
More than 90 Swiss advisers show up in the documents, including 26 that provided services to clients who have been probed by anti-money laundering investigators, according to ICIJExternal link.
While the Pandora Papers have yet to prove any criminal activity, previous leaks, such as the Panama Papers, have led to prosecutions.
Swiss banks have been forced to tighten their reporting of suspicious transactions in recent years, but efforts to impose such requirements on financial advisors have been rejected.
Is your place of origin, your Heimatort, important to you?
Every Swiss citizen has a Heimatort, a place of origin, but many have never visited theirs. What’s your relationship with your Heimatort? What does it mean to you?
An atomic ‘tick-tock’ with Swiss technology heads to space to test the Einstein effect
This content was published on
On Monday, the European Space Agency (ESA) launched the ACES set of atomic clocks to measure the effect of gravity on the passage of time.
Swiss Guard swearing-in ceremony postponed following Pope Francis death
This content was published on
The swearing-in ceremony of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, which usually takes place on May 6 each year, has been postponed to a date to be announced next autumn.
Swiss medical device maker Ypsomed to sell diabetes business
This content was published on
Bern-based injection device manufacturer Ypsomed announced on Tuesday that it was selling its diabetes-related activities.
Award-winning Swiss author and scholar Peter von Matt dies aged 87
This content was published on
The Alemannic writer and former professor of German literature Peter von Matt died on Monday in Zurich at the age of 87, following a long illness.
Swiss foreign minister spoke with Iranian counterpart about US dialogue
This content was published on
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis has spoken with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi about the current dialogue between the US and Iran.
Swiss foreign minister appeals for cohesion and dialogue at Expo in Japan
This content was published on
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis called for cohesion and dialogue at the opening of the Swiss National Day at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, on Tuesday.
Switzerland postpones launch of emergency number for domestic violence victims
This content was published on
The launch of the “142” emergency number, which aims to help victims of domestic violence in Switzerland, has been postponed to May 2026.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Parliament agrees modest tightening of anti-money laundering law
This content was published on
Swiss lawmakers have agreed to revise the money laundering law but have rejected new rules for lawyers, notaries and other consultants.
US charges Swiss finance firm and six people with tax evasion
This content was published on
Six people and a Swiss financial services company have been charged in the United States with helping clients evade taxes on $60 million of assets.
Swiss lawyers seek to keep special ‘advisor’ status in the shadow economy
This content was published on
Anti-corruption expert Mark Pieth offers perspective on how lawyers are trying to keep a loophole that allows them to set up offshore structures.
Tax authorities say 450 Swiss linked to Panama Papers
This content was published on
“We have found 450 people – people in the legal and physical sense – who have a link to offshore structures and Switzerland,” spokesman Joel Weibel told Swiss public radio, SRF, on Monday. The use of offshore entities is not in itself illegal. Weibel said the information on the 450 people would now be passed…
Paradise Papers fuel Swiss better business initiative – for now
This content was published on
In Switzerland, a coalition of 85 non-governmental organisations and trade unions are backing an initiative called “responsible business”.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.