TAIPEI: Taiwan is investigating a bank linked to the so-called Panama Papers scandal, in the wake of a $180 million fine levied by US authorities for “flagrant disregard” of anti-money laundering laws.

American regulators last week said Taiwan’s Mega International Commercial Bank showed indifference towards transactions carried out through Panama, which it calls a “high-risk jurisdiction for money-laundering”.

The US Department of Financial Services (DFS) said it had identified “suspicious transactions” between Mega International’s New York and Panama Branches.

“DFS will not tolerate the flagrant disregard of anti-money laundering laws,” Financial Services Superintendent Maria T. Vullo said in a statement.

DFS said some of the bank’s customer accounts were formed with the help of Mossack Fonseca -- the Panamanian law firm at the centre of a huge data dump in April this year.

A trove of leaked papers revealed murky offshore financial dealings that used shell companies to help politicians, celebrities and sports stars to skirt taxes.

Though offshore companies are not in themselves illegal, they can be used to engage in illegal activities such as tax evasion or money laundering.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2016