Panama Papers: several banks, including BNP, interviewed by American justice – L’Express

This inquiry follows a previous one, sent on 21 April and which was particularly Societe Generale, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank and ten others cited in the tax evasion scandal known as the “ Panama Papers . ”

The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, the new question banks are Goldman Sachs, BNP, Canadian Imperial Bank and Standard Chartered. They have until May 23 to respond to inquiries from NYDFS which could then possibly decide to open an investigation if he was not satisfied with their answers.

A total of 17 banks have been seized in recent weeks NYDFS’s requests for information which has investigative powers and sanctions extended to New York and therefore on Wall Street, a-t- said the same source.

NYDFS, who in 2014 imposed a record fine of nearly $ 9 billion in BNP Paribas for violations of US embargoes, ordered these financial institutions to provide all documents and communication with the firm Mossack Fonseca, in the center of the case of “ Panama Papers .”

The surveyed banks must also bring to its attention any transaction with the firm. But he is blamed them for now no wrongdoing.

Among the other banks, included the German Commerzbank and Nordic Svenska Handelsbanken, Nordea Bank Finland and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (SEB).

Dutch bank ABN AMRO and the Israeli Bank Leumi and Deutsche Bank Trust also received an injunction from NYDFS.

The federal prosecutor in New York, Preet Bharara decided to share April 20 to open a criminal investigation into the case of “ Panama Papers .”

The publication of these documents has caused a global shock wave, led to the opening of numerous surveys on the globe and forced to resign the Prime Minister of Iceland and a Spanish minister.

In addition banks Credit Agricole and BNP Paribas have been questioned Wednesday by the daily Le Monde in the Panama Papers folder, and the finance minister publicly asked for explanations.

Contacted by AFP, Credit Agricole said it had stopped permanently mounting any offshore companies since 2015.

Solicited by AFP, BNP Paribas was to Meanwhile not available to react immediately.

“ Following press reports “, Finance Minister Michel Sapin “ asked for explanations to the presidents of the two cities banks ‘, indicates a statement of Bercy. “ These have provided the first elements ” but “ Minister will see in the next few days ,” the ministry.