The Latest: ‘Panama Papers’ database spurs anti-graft moves
Posted May 10, 2016 5:54 am.
Last Updated May 10, 2016 6:20 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TOKYO – The Latest on the release of a database listing offshore companies named in the Panama Papers (all times local):
6:30 p.m.
The latest release of the names of thousands of offshore companies and other financial data of the rich and powerful is spurring renewed calls to counter corruption and tax evasion.
Japan’s government spokesman said Tuesday that Tokyo plans to propose an action plan for combating graft at the summit of the Group of Seven rich industrial economies that will be held later this month in Ise, Japan.
Yoshihide Suga, Japan’s chief Cabinet secretary, said Tuesday that as host of the May 26-27 G7 summit, Japan hopes to include proposals for combating tax evasion, such as increasing disclosure requirements, along with to the leaders’ joint declaration at the event’s close.
That follows various moves by other countries to investigate or tighten oversight of such financial dealings following the first release last month of information from what has been dubbed the “Panama Papers.”
D.S. Malik, a spokesman for India’s finance ministry, said Tuesday that India’s income tax authorities have sent notices to all the Indians listed in the database and would investigate each case based on their replies.
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists made the fresh data on 200,000 entities available on its website at 1800 GMT (2 p.m. EDT) Monday.
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6:45 p.m.
Relatively few Japanese businesses and individuals are featured in the database of offshore companies released by the ICIJ.
One prominent businessman, Japanese Internet company SoftBank Group Corp.’s Masayoshi Son says two companies that his group company had invested in were among the companies it named.
Son didn’t say which companies they were, but he told reporters during a news conference on the company’s earnings that: “I was surprised to see it on the news.”
Softbank has invested in about 2,000 companies over the years.
“There just happened to be two companies out of 2,000,” he said.
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