research in data leaks have consequences: Yesterday it became known that the authorities have moved in to the disclosure from the Panama Papers since 2016 the world’s 1.2 billion francs in tax revenue and fines. In addition, reports from the Paradise Papers – to which this newspaper was also involved – in Switzerland, to a big tax procedure is not yet complete. The Swiss-Angolan Fund Manager Jean-Claude Bastos.
In this case, the criminal investigators were in Angola active. They threw Bastos, to have in the management of the Angolan state funds unlawfully into his own pocket lined. Documents had shown that Bastos invested money from the state Fund in their own projects and per year, tens of millions of francs in management fees received.
two weeks Ago, Angola agreed out of court with him and the procedure. Bastos had to give up all the mandates, and was released from custody. Blocked funds have been released again. Soon will probably, for this reason, the Swiss Federal Prosecutor’s office is its investigation.
this Is a Flop of investigative journalism?
no. Because: anyone Who claims to misunderstand the task of the journalists. It is not your job to lead, so to speak, investigation. It can’t be that reporters about operations to initial reports, then, if you can produce conclusive evidence of a criminal act.
Even the justice doesn’t work that way. Investigators perform the procedure and to make them known to the public, with no guarantee that the allegations are later in court to prove and right was actually violated.
About questionable operations of public and political interest.
journalists should have to – you! – questionable transactions, examine, hidden business practices bring to light. This type of reporting can lead to criminal receive tracker information, which you can examine with your funds, if you deem it appropriate. Media reports of the money laundering reporting office in Bern every year notes to more than one-third of all reported suspicious money flows. This is not to say that in all these cases, is illegally traded. However, the processes to be investigated – an important contribution for a clean financial centre.
Central is not, of course, that journalists Express a suspicion. Supporting documentation must be available – as in the case of Bastos thanks to the Paradise Papers. In addition, the researchers need to make your always a Central question: Is there actually a public interest that the suspicion is public? Only then it is justified to bring in a data leak, previously hidden stores to light.
If a Swiss financial specialist in the management of the state Fund of a mouse the poor country earns tens of millions per year, can and should share with the Public.
another example: research on the Panama Papers showed that a single Swiss economic help lawyers in questionable transactions, without the need for the origin of the funds check. The law does not prohibit this, as long as you are only a consultant, so not even as Directors of dubious companies act. But the practice is detrimental to the reputation of Switzerland, because it opens a gap in the money laundering-defence. It is of public interest: The Federal Council wants to submit to the Parliament soon, a Lex Panama with tighter rules for lawyers.
Whether right has been infringed or not – if journalists report on the inscrutable and relevant processes, create transparency. And actors involved in questionable transactions, receive a clear message: We are looking for you on the Finger.
(editing Tamedia)
Created: 04.04.2019, 09:34 PM