‘Offshore lists are correct’

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists has published a list of those who use Singapore- or Hong Kong-based fiduciaries and offshore companies in the Virgin Islands and Cook Islands to ensure tax impunity. Among the 100-odd Belgians on the list, the name of Pierre Bocquet (pictured), director of the Belgian company Lancaster Associates, features dozens of times. The consultant, for whom the creation of offshore companies is a professional speciality, said in today’s Le Soir that everything was legal and above board. In the case of Bocquet, all dates, names of associates and legal experts, intermediaries and names of offshore companies are correct. Bocquet owns several offshore companies created from the Portcullis TrustNet fiduciary in Singapore. The objective is to “avoid paying tax, of course”, he admitted. No politician, head of a Bel 20 company or member of the top 10 wealthiest Belgians features in the list.