Lebanese Prosecutor Summons Salameh over Graft Allegations
A Lebanon prosecutor has summoned Central Bank chief Riad Salameh for questioning next month over graft allegations, the latest of several cases brought against him, a judicial source told AFP.
Riad Salameh, one of world's longest-serving central bank governors, is facing a spate of allegations, including from Switzerland, France and Britain, over suspicions of money laundering, embezzlement and fraud.
Lebanon opened a local probe into Salameh's wealth in April, after the Swiss attorney general requested assistance in an investigation into more than $300 million which Salameh allegedly embezzled out of the central bank with the help of his brother -- a charge Salameh has repeatedly denied.
In August, Lebanese prosecutor Jean Tannous will question Salameh on allegations of "embezzlement, forgery, illicit enrichment, money laundering and tax evasion," the judicial source said.
The decision to interrogate the central bank governor is "based on information coming from Lebanon and abroad," the source added, saying the probe overlaps with similar investigations in other countries.
The accusations brought against Salameh came as Lebanon grapples with an economic crisis branded by the World Bank as one of the worst since the mid-19th century.
Critics at home have blamed Salameh's monetary policies for the financial crash but there have been no serious calls for his removal from a ruling class accused of benefiting from his central bank schemes.
After Switzerland opened its probe, France launched a similar investigation into charges of aggravated money laundering in May.
The inquiry was prompted by complaints filed by Swiss foundation Accountability Now, France's Sherpa anti-corruption NGO, and the Collective Association of Victims of Fraudulent and Criminal Practices in Lebanon, set up by savers devastated by the economic crisis.
Salameh has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
20 July 2021, 15:40
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The Rothschilds and Rockefellers are a thing from the past … you’re so last century.
20 July 2021, 19:03
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Riyad Salamah has supported the Lebanese pound for over 30 years, which made the lives of all the Lebanese very easy. Hence, all the Lebanese benefited from the peg of the LL to the dollar over thirty years and travelled all over the world, in addition to having a minimum salary of 800 dollar that doesn't conform to the real Lebanese economy. Fast forward, the problem started with the unfortunate day of the revolution which was staged and not genuine for a small watch-up tax that had no meaning. From that time forward, Salamah is trying to keep the LL in good shape, albeit unsuccessfully, because of the port explosion and the lack of government for more than 8 months. Hence, Salamah is not to blame for the bad state of the country. The politicians are, especially Aoun and Basil. Now, the court is mobilized politically but nothing will come out of it because Salamah has nothing to hide.
21 July 2021, 20:28
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Moneys need to be recovered for sure. The choice should be prosecution and lengthy jail time or an amnesty IF they pay huge fines and pay back stolen amounts. We need a lebanese Ritz Carlton!
21 July 2021, 20:28
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this is all smoke and mirrors. If the international committee wanted to do something they would cease all the funds they have in thier banks, since evryone with any common sense knows the funds they got are all stolen from the treasury. Nothing will ever be done as the lebanon is going to be handed over to Iran like it was handed over to Syria. RIP Lebanon..
23 July 2021, 04:51
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Salameh made many grave mistakes, but he's not the one who should only pay the price. The political elite should all be subjected to scrutiny and their assets, including their bank accounts abroad, should be confiscated, which is estimated to be in the tens of billions, and brought back to settle the debt of the country. Salameh assets should also be part of the game because he also benefited from this situation.
