Thursday 7 April 2016

#PanamaPapers: David Mark Linked to Eight Offshore Companies Used For Secret Assets Scam

The immediate past Senate President, David Mark has been named in a global secret assets scam which revealed he has links with eight offshore companies.
The immediate past Senate President, David Mark
 
The immediate past Senate President, David Mark, has been linked to eight offshore companies in the British Virgin Island used for secret assets scam, according to details released by a German newspaper, Süddeutsche Zeitung.
 
The German newspaper  had on Monday  released the Panama Papers, the biggest leak in the history of data journalism, publishing online 11.5 million documents from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, which showed how prominent people including the family of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, a former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, Argentinian footballer, Lionel Messi and criminals hid money using anonymous shell corporations across the world.
 
It was gathered that the Panamanian law firm, regarded as one of the world’s most secretive companies has helped clients launder money, dodge sanctions and evade tax.
 
The data was obtained by the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung and shared by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists with over 100 other media partners in 82 countries.
 
According to Premium Times, eight offshore companies have been traced to Mark. The companies are: Sikera Overseas S.A, Colsan Enterprises Limited, Goldwin Transworld Limited, Hartland Estates Limited, Marlin Holdings Limited, Medley Holdings Limited, Quetta Properties Limited, and Centenary Holdings Limited.
 
It was, however, unclear as to what business dealings Mark had with the companies. It would be recalled that Sarik's family and former governor of Delta State, James Ibori now in UK prison were also mentioned in the Panama papers.
 
The scandal has claimed it first victim. Iceland's prime minister resigned Tuesday, becoming the first political victim of a mushrooming worldwide scandal over hidden offshore financial dealings exposed in the so-called Panama Papers.
 
Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson was the biggest casualty of a worldwide media probe into 11.5 million leaked documents that purportedly reveal the offshore financial activities of 140 political figures, including 12 current or former heads of state.
 
"The prime minister told (his party's) parliamentary group meeting that he would step down as prime minister and I will take over," the Progressive Party s deputy leader Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson told a live broadcast.

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