"Pandora Papers" Unveils The World's Biggest Tax Scandal

After the Panama Papers, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) once again exposed the alleged tax scandal involving world-famous people. Armed with the leaked of 11.9 million confidential documents of 14 agents of shell companies or Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), ICIJ uncovered the biggest alleged tax scandal in various parts of the world with the title "Pandora Papers".

ICIJ explained that the Pandora Papers investigation was a collaboration and the work of over 600 journalists in 117 countries.

The names of world leaders one by one appear in the investment documents of shell companies at the center of the global tax haven scandal. About 330 names of politicians in more than 200 countries and jurisdictions are exposed to their investment records through shell companies.

Starting from the King of Jordan, Abdullah II;  Czech Prime Minister, Andrej Babis;  former British Prime Minister Tony Blair;  Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta;  Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan;  to the name of the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin.

King of Jordan, Abullah II, reportedly hoarded USD100 million in assets from Malibu, California, to Washington and London. These assets are managed by a network of investment firms in tax havens.

Meanwhile, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis allegedly neglected to report the investment company in the tax haven that was used to buy a castle worth USD 22 million in France.

In the meantime, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is suspected to have avoided paying millions of pounds in property taxes in London. The assets were purchased through shell companies in tax havens.

A similar modus operandi was detected through the secret investment of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and his family through a network of shell companies in tax havens.

Names of many close to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, from the minister to his family, are also said to have secretly owned companies in the tax haven.

The name of the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin was also indirectly dragged into the Pandora Papers. He was linked to a secret asset in Monaco, which is said to be the home of a Russian woman with whom Putin had an illicit relationship.

As of today (10/4/2021), the official ICIJ website has not released a report on a tax scandal involving famous figures from Indonesia. However, Tempo Magazine has mentioned two ministers of the Onward Indonesia Cabinet who have shell companies in tax havens.

Tempo Magazine emphasized that the establishment of a company in a tax country does not necessarily indicate a violation. However, it can be used to avoid taxes in legitimate businesses, which could potentially reduce state revenues from the tax sector.

International Consortium of Investigative Journalist (ICIJ); Pandora Papers; Majalah Tempo