2023-05-16 14:09:00
On suspicion of seizing, among others, more than $300 million from the Central Bank
A French judge issued an international arrest warrant for the Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, Riad Salameh.
Salama, his assistant, and his brother Raja are being investigated in Lebanon and at least five European countries on suspicion of appropriating more than $300 million from the Central Bank, while the two brothers deny any wrongdoing.
French prosecutors had set a hearing for Salameh at 9:30 a.m. on May 16, according to court documents. French prosecutors intend to file preliminary charges and name him as an official suspect during that session, according to a Archyde.com report seen by Al Arabiya.net.
Two sources familiar with Salameh’s travel plans said today, Tuesday, that the governor of the Banque du Liban has not left Beirut.
A high-ranking judicial source said that the Lebanese judiciary was unable to implement the summons, because it was addressed to Salameh at the Central Bank, and he was not present to receive it.
Another judicial source said that Salama’s defense lawyer, his brother, and his assistant, Marianne Al-Hweik, filed an objection before the Lebanese judiciary to the French case, saying that France should not be allowed to consider a case that is already being investigated in Lebanon.
The three were charged in two separate cases in Lebanon. Riyad and Raja Salameh denied transferring public funds, and neither Al-Huwaik nor her lawyer has spoken publicly regarding the accusations.
Lebanon’s public prosecutor said in January that Beirut might delay cooperation with foreign investigations pending progress in domestic investigations.
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