Interpol transmits the demand for the arrest of the governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon to Beirut

Interpol handed over the official letter to the Lebanese Interior Ministry regarding the request for the arrest of Riyadh Salame, the Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, who has an “international arrest warrant” on corruption charges.

The press officer of the Lebanese Interior Minister Bessam Mevlevi, Venessa Matta, said in a statement that Interpol sent them the official letter regarding the request for Salame’s arrest and that the request will be implemented in accordance with the decision of the judiciary. Lebanese.

On the other hand, in the news from the official Lebanese agency NNA, it was indicated that the Interpol official letter reached the Lebanese Court of Appeals and work is being done on it.

HE SAID HE WILL USE THE RIGHT OF OBJECTION

In the lawsuit filed in Paris, the capital of France, against Governor Selame of the Lebanese Central Bank on allegations of “money laundering, embezzlement and corruption,” the court issued an “international arrest” decision on May 16. .

Selame, who did not attend the hearing, later stated that the laws had been violated and that he would use his right to appeal.

Salame, 72, who has served as Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon for 30 years, expires this month. Salame’s immunity must be lifted before he can be arrested in Lebanon.

CORRUPTION LAWSUITS AGAINST SALAME

The governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, Salame, was first prosecuted in January 2021 by the Swiss judicial authorities on charges of “embezzlement, money laundering and corruption”.

The Swiss Attorney General’s Office reported that the Forry Company, owned by Salame’s brother Raja Selame, received $326 million in fees and commissions between 2002 and 2014 for the sale of Eurobonds and Treasury bills belonging to the Central Bank of Lebanon.

On the other hand, the Lebanese Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit against Selame in April 2021, after Switzerland requested Lebanon’s assistance with its investigation request.

Selame announced on November 17, 2021 that a company audited the documents related to all investments and money transfers and would present them to the judicial authorities.

The chief prosecutor of the Jabal Lebanon court, Gade Avn, announced that a travel ban was imposed on Riyadh Salame on January 11, 2022, and on February 19, 2022, he decided to freeze his movable and immovable assets in the Metn region of Lebanon. , where Salami resides.
Selame also gave a statement on the accusations against him in the presence of a Europe judicial committee on March 16, 2023 in Beirut. (AA)