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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.

Lebanon's Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh gives an interview with AFP at his office in the capital Beirut on December 20, 2021.  (Photo by JOSEPH EID/AFP via Getty Images)
Lebanon's Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh gives an interview with AFP at his office, Beirut, Lebanon, Dec. 20, 2021. — Joseph Eid/AFP via Getty Images

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.

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