Officials in Latin America linked to tax expose

Various Latin American officials are among the world figures mentioned in the “Panama Papers” trove of leaked tax documents detailing suspect international financial dealings, reporters who analyzed the material found.

At least 57 people, already linked to Brazil’s huge Petrobras corruption scandal, opened offshore companies through Mossack Fonseca, local media reported.

The O Estado de Sao Paulo reported late on Sunday that many of those companies were unknown in the anti-corruption “Operation Car Wash” surrounding Petrobras launched in 2014.

Topping the list is a company that reportedly belongs to Eduardo Cunha, the speaker of the lower house of Brazil’s legislature and the man heading efforts to impeach President Dilma Rousseff.

In a statement, Mr Cunha vehemently denied the allegation, and challenged anyone to show his links to any offshore company. Brazilians linked to the “Panama Papers” include a former cabinet minister and a former legislator.

In Argentina, President Mauricio Macri, his father, and brother Mariano were on the board of directors of an offshore company registered in the Bahamas since 1998, the daily La Nacion reported.

The company was in operation until 2009, two years into Macri’s tenure as Buenos Aires mayor.

Aside from football megastar Lionel Messi, other prominent Argentines linked to the Panama Papers include a former private secretary to the late ex-president Nestor Kirchner (2003-2007) and a senior aide to Macri when the president was Buenos Aires mayor.

In Mexico, Juan Armando Hinojosa Cantu, one of Mexico’s richest tycoons and head of the Higa business group hid at least $100 million in offshore companies that stretch to New Zealand, according to the website Aristegui Noticias.

The money was moved via companies created by Mossack Fonseca using the name of Hinojosa’s mother and mother in law, the website said.

In Peru, two major supporters of Keiko Fujimori — who is leading the polls in Peru’s upcoming presidential election — have undeclared interests in offshore companies set up by Mossack Fonseca, according to the news website Ojo Publico.

Others linked with offshore companies set up by the Panamanian firm include Peru’s leading timber company as well as three renown local chefs, Ojo Publico said.