Lebanese Judiciary to Question Governor of Banque du Liban

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Yesterday, Monday, the Discriminatory Public Prosecution in Lebanon decided to question the Governor of Banque du Liban, Riad Salameh, concerning several cases, including embezzlement of public funds and tax evasion.

More than two months ago, the Lebanese judiciary opened a local investigation into the source of Salameh's wealth after he was investigated in Switzerland for suspicions of embezzlement cases before being investigated in France and received a complaint in Britain.

The judicial source reported that the Discriminatory Public Prosecution decided to interrogate Salameh beginning of August, where he "will be investigated before the DPP Jean Tannous for crimes of embezzling public funds, forgery, illegal enrichment, money laundering, and tax evasion."

The source explained that the local investigation "intersects" with investigations in the three Western countries and the decision to question Salameh, "and the prosecution against him comes based on internal and external data and information that called for these measures."

AFP reported a few days ago that the Paris Anti-Corruption Prosecution was assigned to investigate Banque du Liban Governor Riad Salameh's wealth and assumes that the French and Swiss investigations will reveal the source of his wealth.

The request submitted by the Swiss public prosecutor to Lebanon states that "it appears that Salameh, with the help of his brother, since 2002 has embezzled funds adding up to more than 300 million US dollars to the detriment of the Banque du Liban."

However, French and Swiss investigations are expected to clarify the source of Salamah's large real estate wealth in Europe.

This judicial process began when complaints were filed in April in Paris by the Swiss “Accountability Now” on the one hand, and the “Sherpa” organization and the “Association of Victims of Fraud and Criminal Practices in Lebanon” on the other.