Lebanon’s bank chief Salameh in hot seat as French judge arrives in Beirut
The French judge will question Riad Salameh over the central bank governor’s alleged involvement in financial crimes.
BEIRUT — A French judge was scheduled to arrive in Lebanon on Monday to question the country’s powerful central bank governor Riad Salameh over a number of alleged money laundering and financial crimes, the European Observatory for the Integrity of Lebanon announced in a statement.
Judge Aude Buresi will interrogate Riad Salameh in the presence of First Investigative Judge of Beirut Charbel Abou Samra in a hearing set for Wednesday.
Salameh, his brother Raja and his assistant Marianne Hoayek were charged last month with embezzlement, money laundering, illicit enrichment, fraud and tax evasion. The charges are part of a domestic probe into Salameh’s assets launched in 2021 by the request of Switzerland, which is investigating $300 million in money transfers by the governor and his brother between 2002 and 2015.
Salameh has occupied his role at the central bank for three decades. The 73-year-old governor denies any wrongdoing and has refused to attend any hearing or questioning.
