Former Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon Riad Salameh appeared before the judge on Monday in relation to a alleged fraudulent scheme in the gentleman from the issuing entity, in his first interrogation since he was arrested and accused of several economic crimes last week.
According to the criteria of
Salameh arrived this morning at the Beirut Palace of Justice, where he is giving his statement amidst strong media attention while waiting to find out if he will be released after the session or if the judge in charge of the case will extend his or her period of detention.
Riad Salameh
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The economist was arrested last tuesday September 3 and a day later he was charged with embezzlement, theft of public funds, fraud and illicit enrichment.
The charges relate to a series of apparently fraudulent transactions made over a period of three years between the financial intermediary Optimum Invest and the issuing entity then directed by him.
According to the local press, the system was used to enter some $8 billion in the Central Bank’s accounts with the intention of hiding their losses, although since Salameh’s arrest several media outlets have already reported figures up to five times higher.
The former governor, who remained at the head of the Central Bank for three uninterrupted decades between 1993 and 2023, He has already faced several investigations in the last two years Lebanese and European territory by alleged economic crimes.
In this context, he was investigated for a series of million-dollar transfers carried out from Lebanon in which his family was also allegedly involved Brother Raja, suspected of having received millions in payments through service contracts with the Lebanese entity.
Despite the fact that travel bans, asset freezes and even arrest warrants, The economist had never been arrested until last week, amid accusations that he was being protected by the country’s ruling class.
EFE
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