French judge may issue arrest warrant for Salameh
French judge Aude Buresi has postponed a session to announce the verdict in a case against Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh to May 23.
“The French judge was supposed to issue a verdict upholding the freezing order on Salameh’s properties and confiscated assets or acquitting him, in a lawsuit filed by the Gathering of the Victims of Fraudulent and Criminal Practices in Lebanon and French NGO Sherpa,” al-Akhbar newspaper said.
The lawsuit accuses Salameh of money laundering, embezzlement and illegal commissions.
According to al-Akhbar, the session’s postponement to May 23 was prompted by the Lebanese state’s intervention in the case as an aggrieved party and a request by the lawyers of the Lebanese state for looking into the file.
Buresi meanwhile set a May 16 session for Salameh’s interrogation, asking that he appear before her in Paris, al-Akhbar said.
And as sources close to Salameh said that he will not go to France because he knows that he will be indicted, French sources said that Buresi will indeed indict him if he shows up or will issue an arrest warrant for him if he doesn’t.
“Salameh’s indictment, if it happens, will change the rules of the game in Lebanon, seeing as Salameh will no longer be able to enjoy a political, judicial and security cover, out of (Lebanese officials’) fear of foreign sanctions. Cabinet will also have to meet to sack him if he does not tender his resignation before that,” al-Akhbar added.
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