Government and Federal Prosecutor's Office to investigate HSBC scandal.
The list of Brazilians with irregular accounts opened by HSBC bank in Switzerland will be investigated by Brazilian authorities; the Ministry of Justice has ordered an analysis of the case; the Attorney General's Office has already begun the investigation process, which may involve a money laundering scheme; possible tax evasion will also be investigated by the Federal Revenue Service; the balance of these secret accounts, belonging to Brazilians alone, could reach US$8 billion, approximately R$20 billion.
From the Rede Brasil Atual - Two formal investigations in the country regarding the list of Brazilians with irregular accounts opened by HSBC bank in Switzerland were signaled this Friday (20). On the one hand, the Minister of Justice, José Eduardo Cardozo, confirmed that he asked the technical bodies linked to the ministry he heads for an analysis of the case.
On the other hand, the Attorney General's Office (PGR) announced that, regardless of the formal request for investigation filed this week by Congressman Paulo Pimenta (PT-RS), the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF) has already begun the process of investigating the case, which may involve a money laundering and tax evasion scheme.
When speaking about the matter, the Minister of Justice avoided commenting. He affirmed, however, that the government will indeed take a stance regarding the case, "provided it is investigated within the scope of our coverage," he emphasized, in a press conference about the Lava Jato operation of the Federal Police.
The Brazilian Federal Revenue Service also released a statement informing that it had access to part of the list of HSBC account holders and that it intends to conduct an investigation into the matter.
in Congress
In addition to these actions, next week will be marked by two meetings regarding the allegations against HSBC. In the National Congress, Congressman Paulo Pimenta, who has been investigating the case since January, will present the information he has gathered about Brazilian account holders to the PT (Workers' Party) caucus. Pimenta also has a meeting scheduled with representatives of the international investigation being conducted in Switzerland.
And Congressman Valmir Prascidelli (PT-SP) also filed a request today with the Chamber's Board of Directors asking for the formation of an External Legislative Committee to investigate the list (which has been called SwissLeaks).
Information about irregular accounts at HSBC was revealed from data released by international media outlets through the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. The group chose the UOL portal, from the same company that publishes the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper, to publish the allegations in Brazil, but the portal has been criticized for keeping the content of the investigations partially confidential.
Fourth country
The data reveals the existence of a list of secret accounts opened by HSBC in Switzerland, containing undeclared funds. Of these, more than 8,7 accounts belong to Brazilians, who hold an estimated amount of nearly US$8 billion – or about R$20 billion. Brazil is the fourth country in terms of the number of clients operating in the Swiss branch of that bank and ninth in terms of the volume of money moved.
Speaking on the subject, Paulo Pimenta argued that Brazil should establish international agreements and agreements with other government agencies, such as the Federal Revenue Service, to advance the investigation, as has already been observed in other countries. The congressman said he considers this the biggest corruption scandal in the world and calls for a detailed investigation.
Last Sunday (15), after allegations that it helped hundreds of clients evade taxes, HSBC issued a statement apologizing to clients and investors. It also published advertisements in newspapers in England. The Geneva prosecutor's office, the capital of Switzerland, formally opened an investigation to look into the situation and ordered searches at HSBC offices.
"This case exposes a bit of the hypocrisy of sectors of a supposed Brazilian conservative elite that finds euphemisms to differentiate theft from tax evasion, that criticizes Bolsa Família, but finds ways to make their money end up in Switzerland so as not to pay taxes," Pimenta pointed out, in an interview given to RBA last Thursday (19). Read the full material by clicking on the link above.