MeesPierson Trust Curaçao mentioned in fraude

May 26, 2009 5:43 AM

Fortis-subsidiary MeesPierson on Curaçao is according to the Dutch Public Prosecutor involved in the construction of fraudulent tax routes via the Antilles.

This is mentioned in a news item in the financial daily paper Financieel Dagblad about the renowned Dutch tax lawyer Klaus Vink.

Vink advised fraudulent tax routes via the Antilles, the Public Prosecutor stated. Vink is under the suspicion of, “employing regular agreements on fiscal attractive removals of companies to the Antilles which were then nullified by agreements and accompanied by a so-called ‘side-letter”. The side-letter was kept from the Tax Authorities. Fortis is also involved.

The suspicion against Vink and a client consists of tax fraud, forgery, and membership of a criminal organization. Vink confirmed this to the FD. He criticizes the conduct of the authorities. “I always advised to the best of my knowledge. The supposition that a transfer of registered office was simulated is totally unfounded. There is no question of contradictory agreements and withholding a side-letter”, as cited in the newspaper.
“The Vink-case concerns tax fraud through a possible fictive registered office transfer of companies to the Antilles. Vink says that this was not his idea, but a legal ‘product’ of MeesPierson Trust Curaçao – now Fortis. From a disposition of the Court of Amsterdam in 2007, it appears that the Public Prosecutor suspected someone from MeesPierson on Curaçao and ‘possibly’ someone from MeesPierson in Amsterdam.” In a reaction to the FD, Fortis states that subsidiary MeesPierson is not a ‘party’ in this case, but Fortis Bank. They will not comment on the question if (former) employees are still suspects.

(Source: National newspaper Antilliaans Dagblad / Amigoe)

May 23, 2009