Ex-Sudanese president kept money in offshore firm: document
April 3, 2016 (WASHINGTON) – The former Sudanese President Ahmed Osman al-Mirghani set up an offshore company in the mid 90’s was that worth several million dollars at the time of his death, according to a whistleblower website.
According to the leaks dubbed “Panama Papers” more than 214,000 offshore entities appear in the leak, connected to people in more than 200 countries and territories. They reveal the offshore holdings of 140 politicians from around the world, including 11 heads of state.
In a letter dated November 6, 1995 directed from British Legal firm Pettman Smith to Mossack Fonseca asks that “two shares be issued to nominee shareholders to hold on trust for Ahmed Ali El Mirghani of El Mirghani House, 75 , Mustafa Abue Heif Street, Gelem, Alexandria and I would also ask you to provide directors for the company”.
“ I look forward to receiving company papers shortly” the letter reads.
The company was named Orange Star Corporation.
Another document shows that a bank account was to be opened for the company in a UK branch of the National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) of which al-Mirghani was the sole authorized signatory.
A specimen signature belonging to al-Mirghani was included in the document and in another page he certifies that the company “is not a United Kingdom resident or trading in the United Kingdom through a branch or agency and request that interest shall not be included in any return made by you under Section 17 Taxes Management Act 1970″.
ICIJ said that Orange Star Corporation purchased a long lease of an apartment in an expensive area of London north of Hyde Park for more than $600,000 adding that at the time of al-Mirghani’s death, he held assets through the company worth $2.72 million.
The family did not respond to repeated requests for comment, ICIJ added.
It is not clear why the Sudanese politician resorted to this technique typically used for tax evasion or money laundry. He did not hold any official position at the time.
Al-Mirghani held the ceremonial position of Sudanese head of state from 1986 till the military coup led by brigadier Omer Hassan al-Bashir in 1989. He remained in exile in Egypt till his 2001 return to Sudan. He died in Egypt seven years later.
He is the brother of the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Mohamed Osman al-Mirghani.
(ST)
