Panama Papers: Law Firm's Offices Raided
Mossack Fonseca is at the centre of an international data leak scandal that has embarrassed a number of world leaders.
Friday 8 April 2016 22:54, UK
The offices of offshore law firm Mossack Fonseca in El Salvador have been raided, according to the country's attorney general's office.
El Salvador's top prosecutor said officials decided to act after hearing that the company's sign was being taken down on Thursday night.
Douglas Melendez said prosecutors discovered "few documents" during the raid in San Salvador.
Mr Melendez said "we have found a lot of computers and servers," and around half a dozen employees, who are being questioned.
The Panama-based company is at the centre of an international data leak scandal that has embarrassed a number of world leaders and shone a spotlight on the shadowy world of offshore companies.
Governments across the world have started investigating possible financial wrongdoing by the rich and powerful after the leak of millions of documents from the law firm that span several decades.
The papers have revealed financial arrangements of prominent figures, including friends of Russian President Vladimir Putin, relatives of Pakistan's prime minister and Chinese president Xi Jinping, and the president of Ukraine.
David Cameron has also been dragged into the row, after Ian, who was named in the Panama Papers.
However, the Prime Minister has said it was a "fundamental misconception" that the fund was set up to avoid tax, arguing his father was being "unfairly written about".
Officials from Mossack Fonseca in Panama were not immediately available for comment.
In the aftermath of the leak, the firm hitting back at what it called "inaccuracies" and "misconceptions".
The firm strenuously denied any wrongdoing, insisting it carried out robust checks on its clients.
It claimed reports had relied on "supposition and stereotypes" and stressed that it had "operated beyond reproach" for 40 years.