Prosecution Arrests Higher Relief Council's Bashir, His Wife over Alleged Embezzlement Case

Acting General Prosecutor Judge Samir Hammoud ordered on Monday the arrest of Higher Relief Council chief Ibrahim Bashir and his wife for their alleged embezzlement of public funds.

"Hammoud ordered the arrest of Bashir and his wife pending investigation, after probing the case that was referred by a special committee at the Banque du Liban,” the state-run National News Agency said.

The NNA detailed that the decision was made after listening to the testimonies of Bashir and his wife on Monday afternoon.

"Hammoud also took measures against other suspects in the case,” the same source noted.

"The judge referred the case to the financial public prosecution to adopt the necessary legal procedures."

Earlier on Monday, the General Prosecution kicked off investigations in the case of the embezzlement of $10 million from public funds by Bashir.

Later on LBCI reported that Bashir was referred to the Criminal Investigation Department for questioning.

He was later detained, the channel said, until investigations with him are complete.

Investigations come in light of Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati's warning on Saturday that “haphazard accusations” by Bashir are punishable by law, revealing that he will take all the necessary “legal and judicial measures and procedures towards (Bashir's) irresponsible defamation.”

He noted that a copy of his “warning” will be sent to the Public Prosecution, along with Bashir's statement, for investigation.

“Launching haphazard accusations is punishable by the penal code and it is a desperate attempt to change the case's path." he said in an open letter.

Miqati continued: “It is also a failed attempt to politicize and doubt the investigation committee's decision that is probing the incident.”

“Your statement also incites sectarian and regional tensions.”

Bashir had denied a day before that he has embezzled $ 10 million from public funds, accusing the caretaker premier and the cabinet's secretary-general of trying to “eliminate him.”

“Since I took office there hasn't been harmony with the cabinet's secretary-general, Suhail Bouji, because the Council strives now to serve all the Lebanese while they want it to cater to Sunnis only,” he said.

"After I took office, I made sure the HRC serves all the Lebanese,” Bashir said.