The acting first investigating judge in Beirut, Bilal Halawi, issued an arrest warrant against the former governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, Riad Salameh, after the end of his interrogation session, following the accusation against him in cases of embezzlement of funds.
Salama was arrested last Tuesday by a decision of the Public Prosecutor, Judge Jamal Al-Hajjar, as the judiciary suspects his involvement in seizing $41 million of the Central Bank’s funds, through the establishment of fictitious companies.
Today was the first court session for Salama, since his arrest last week and his accusation of committing financial crimes including theft of public funds.
The source explained to Reuters that “the recent decision means that Salama has become “officially detained by a judicial arrest warrant” that ends the “precautionary detention,” adding that “the investigative judge’s taking of this decision means that the suspicions against Salama have become “reinforced.”
Salameh’s media office said that he “will not comment publicly on the case in compliance with the law,” adding that Salameh had previously cooperated in more than 20 criminal investigations in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, and has been cooperating with the investigation since his detention.
Last updated: September 9, 2024 – 16:35
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2024-09-12 18:12:12