Deloitte falsified documents to evade tax on Abramovich's wealth
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BBC Panorama finds Deloitte helped falsify documents to hide Roman Abramovich's wealth and evade tax.
Leaked documents show Deloitte Cyprus signed off accounts for Abramovich's company Amiscan Investments in 2006 that removed $672m in assets after backdating asset transfers to 2003. The scheme circumvented a new Cypriot transparency law. For another company, Kravin Investments, backdated documents were used to evade tax on nearly $2bn in bank interest, with Deloitte advising on falsifying financial records. Barrister Andrew Mitchell KC called it "straightforward" tax evasion. Abramovich's lawyers deny he knew about or authorized any falsification.
What commenters are saying
Commenters express cynicism about Deloitte and the Big Four, arguing such firms exist to rubberstamp shady corporate actions and shield clients from liability. One notes Deloitte's integrity training is contradicted by its practices; another points out these companies produce low-quality work for high fees. Some defend document retention policies as standard liability limitation, not inherently shady. Others debate whether London benefited from oligarch money, with a consensus that it drove up real estate prices corruptly.