|
Judge Charbel Abu Samra took over the case late last month after
another judge charged Salameh with embezzlement, illicit enrichment
and money laundering. Charges were also filed against his brother,
Raja, and an assistant, Marianne Howayek.
They all deny the charges against them.
Abu Samra on Monday met representatives of three European countries
also probing Salameh, with which Lebanon has pledged to cooperate -
Germany, France and Luxembourg.
He informed them that he had not yet fully studied the contents of
the file, comprising four boxes, and that it would take time to do
so, the judicial source said.
Abu Samra appointed three financial experts to study the file with
him, the source added.
The charges against Salameh are the product of an 18-month probe
into whether Salameh and his brother, Raja, embezzled more than $300
million from the Central Bank between 2002 and 2015.
Judicial authorities in at least five European countries are
investigating the Salameh brothers over the same allegations.
Salameh, central bank governor since 1993, still enjoys backing from
powerful Lebanese leaders. Many judges largely owe their
appointments to politicians.
He was charged last year over illicit enrichment in a case related
to the purchase and rental of Paris apartments, including some to
Lebanon's central bank.
(Reporting by Laila Bassam; Writing by Timour Azhari; Editing by
Toby Chopra and Nick Macfie)
[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2022 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
