European investigative team in Lebanon starts probe into Riad Salameh
French Judge Aude Buresi is leading the European delegation, and was scheduled to interview at least 15 bankers and business figures in the country tied to Salameh.
A European delegation arrived in Lebanon this week and started the investigation into money laundering and financial crimes allegedly committed by Riad Salameh, the country's central bank governor.
The judicial delegation from France, Germany and Luxembourg started the interview process on Monday. It centers around Salameh and his associates on allegations of laundering of public money in Europe. Swiss authorities revealed in a 2020 letter published by the Financial Times, that they suspect Salameh and his brother Raja of embezzling more than $300 million from the central bank between 2002 and 2015 through transactions to an obscure offshore company, Forry Associates.
Swiss investigators allege that the offshore company was controlled by Raja Salameh, who funneled the money from Forry to a Swiss bank account.
French Judge Aude Buresi is leading the European delegation, and was scheduled to interview at least 15 bankers and business figures in the country tied to Salameh, Lebanese media reports including 961 news website said. The list includes:
