DW-World.de
Deutsche Welle

German authorities say they have widened an investigation into a tax evasion scam centred on the tiny Alpine principality of Liechtenstein, as the United States, Australia, Italy and Sweden also join in the hunt for  tax evaders. Tax authority officials have so far searched the properties of around 150 people in a nationwide trawl into allegations that up to 1,000 wealthy people hid their money in the independent state. The US Internal Revenue Service said it was investigating more than 100 American taxpayers over bank accounts held in Liechtenstein, while Australian tax authorities said they were also looking into 20 cases. The probe is the biggest in German history and is believed to be based on a confidential list from Liechtenstein's LGT group sold to German intelligence agents for 4.2 million euros