Jürgen Mossack and Ramón Fonseca Mora, the founders of Mossack Fonseca, are among the 27 individuals facing money laundering charges. They deny any wrongdoing and claim they had no control over the offshore companies used by their clients.
The Panama Papers leak implicated over 100 politicians worldwide, including 12 national leaders. Among them were Sergei Roldugin, a friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had $2 billion in an offshore company.
The Panama Papers leak had far-reaching consequences, prompting the resignation of Icelands prime minister, scrutinizing world leaders including David Cameron and Vladimir Putin, and exposing the vast scale of hidden offshore assets.
US federal prosecutors allege that Mossack Fonseca conspired to circumvent American tax laws since 2000, using sham foundations and shell companies in various jurisdictions.
The trial in Panama City includes former employees of Mossack-Fonseca. Jurgen Mossack and Ramon Fonseca are present, but Fonseca is also in a hospital.