Wednesday, November 8th., 2017
“I think he is accountable and that he has to be subject to public scrutiny,” he added...."
'Conflict of Interest': Call for Scrutiny Over Prince Charles' Offshore Deal
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AP Photo/ Daniel Kalisz
Prince
Charles’ should be accountable to public scrutiny following claims that
he publicly campaigned to amend global climate change agreements after
buying into a Bermuda-registered environmental firm, British media
reported, citing the former head of the Committee on Public Life.
“There’s
a conflict of interest between [the] investments of [Prince Charles’]
Duchy of Cornwall and what he’s trying to achieve publicly. And I think
it’s unfortunate that somebody of his importance, of his influence,
becomes involved in such a serious conflict,” Sir Alistair Graham said
in an interview with the BBC.
In January 2008, just months after purchasing the shares, Prince Charles lobbied for new ways to support rainforests in a bid to benefit financially.
The shares were sold a year later for $325,000. It appears that in just one buy-and-sell deal Prince Charles tripled his $113,000 investment in SFM, co-run by a close friend.
The Paradise Papers also suggested the Duchy of Cornwall’s other investments included £1 million pounds (about $2 million) in a Cayman Islands-based private equity fund, Coller International Partners IV-D.
The information was obtained by the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung and provided to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).
The ICIJ is widely known for releasing the well-publicized Panama Papers last
year. The documents included thousands of leaked files from the
Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseka, which revealed alleged illegal
financial practices of officials and public figures from various
countries.
Mossack Fonseca has refused to confirm that the leaked papers were are authentic, although it claimed that it had been hacked.
“I think he is accountable and that he has to be subject to public scrutiny,” he added.
According to the leaked Paradise Papers,
Prince Charles’ Duchy of Cornwall invested millions of pounds
into offshore businesses, including £58,000 ($113,500) in 2007 for a
stake in the Bermuda-registered Sustainable Forestry Management Ltd
(SFM).In January 2008, just months after purchasing the shares, Prince Charles lobbied for new ways to support rainforests in a bid to benefit financially.
The shares were sold a year later for $325,000. It appears that in just one buy-and-sell deal Prince Charles tripled his $113,000 investment in SFM, co-run by a close friend.
The Paradise Papers also suggested the Duchy of Cornwall’s other investments included £1 million pounds (about $2 million) in a Cayman Islands-based private equity fund, Coller International Partners IV-D.
The information was obtained by the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung and provided to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).
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