The president of the Chilean chapter of Transparency International
has resigned after he was alleged to be involved with secret offshore
companies exposed in the #PanamaPapers.
Though Gonzalo Delaveau was not accused of any wrongdoing, the leaks
throw some doubts into his role as the head of an organization that
spearheads openness in government and highlights corporate corruption.
“We are deeply troubled by what has happened with the Chair of our
chapter in Chile,” José Ugaz, chair of Transparency International, wrote
in a statement on Tuesday.
“At Transparency International we stand for transparency and
integrity above all else and once we learned of Delaveau’s involvement
with secret companies, our International Board began the process of
suspending the chapter before possible dis-accreditation. With
Delaveau’s resignation, our Board decided to halt its efforts to
sanction the chapter.”
Mr. Delaveau resigned after his name was linked to no fewer than five offshore companies.
“While Delaveau is not reportedly accused of illegal activity, and he
may be able to explain his activities, for us that is not the point,”
Mr. Ugaz wrote.
“Not all secret companies are illegal, but many are used to hide
money flows and to support acts of corruption. As we said yesterday in a
press release about the Panama Papers investigation: Transparency
International wants public registers of all companies’ beneficial owners
to make it harder for the corrupt to hide their illicit wealth in
secret companies and trusts that use nominees to register ownership.”
Mr. Delaveau resignation came after after Chile’s tax authority
announced it would begin investigations into Chileans mentioned in the
Panama Papers.
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