Salameh summoned for interrogation in Paris on May 16

The Lebanese judiciary has received a French judicial writ summoning Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh to an interrogation session in France on May 16, LBCI TV reported on Thursday.

In Lebanon, Judge Charbel Abu Samra postponed a Salameh interrogation session in a domestic probe against the governor to May 18, al-Jadeed television said.

French judge Aude Buresi has postponed a session to announce a verdict against Salameh to May 23 while summoning him for interrogation on May 16.

“The French judge was supposed to issue (Tuesday) 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.

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.