European judges in Lebanon to investigate the actions of the governor of the Central Bank
Banque du Liban Governor Riad Salamé in Beirut on December 20, 2021. © JOSEPH EID/AFP
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2 mins
Riad Salamé is cited in investigations opened in several countries (including France), suspected of embezzlement in particular.
This week, French, German and Luxembourg investigators are in Beirut to interview Lebanese witnesses together.
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Riad Salamé, 72, is considered one of the emblematic figures of the crises that Lebanon is experiencing and of the corruption that undermines this country: Riad Salamé has been at the head of the Central Bank for three decades.
The man is very criticized in the context of the economic sinking of Lebanon
He is not one of the witnesses who must be heard by the European magistrates present in Lebanon this week.
But several leads go back to the all-powerful governor of the Banque du Liban.
Chanez Mendsous is a lawyer for Sherpa, an anti-corruption NGO well known for its fight against ill-gotten gains.
Sherpa has identified possible offenses of embezzlement and money laundering in France.
“
What aroused our suspicions was the presence on French soil of investments, in particular real estate, buildings in the upscale neighborhoods of the capital, which could be traced as being the property, through financial arrangements, of the persons targeted by our complaint.
The most important being Riad Salamé and some of his relatives.
»
Sherpa filed a complaint against X in France and Luxembourg.
For the moment, Riad Salamé is not indicted but one of his relatives has been since last June.
French, German and Luxembourg judges are cooperating in this case.
Before traveling together to Lebanon this week, they had frozen 120 million euros last year, as part of a money laundering investigation targeting five people including the governor of the Banque du Liban.
Riad Salamé is also targeted by investigations in Switzerland and in his own country.
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To read also: A delegation of European judges in Beirut to investigate financial embezzlement
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