Luxembourg authorities ask Lebanon for information on Central Bank Chief's finances

Luxembourg authorities ask Lebanon for information on Central Bank Chief's finances
February 5, 2022, 9:03 am

Riad Salameh-Lebanese central bank governor/Facebook page

The Gulfnews reported, citing Reuters, a senior Lebanese judicial source confirmed, Lebanon received a letter from Luxembourg authorities asking for information relating to Lebanon Central Bank Chief Riad Salameh's bank accounts and assets.

The report said, the source did not elaborate.

A spokesperson for Luxembourg's judiciary confirmed to Reuters in November luxembourg-judicial-authorities-open-criminal-case-related-lebanon-central-bank-2021-11-15 it had opened "a criminal case" in relation to Salameh and his companies and assets, declining to provide further information at the time.

A spokesperson for Luxembourg's judiciary and Lebanon's justice minister did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday.

Historical landmark in Luxembourg/Pixabay

When asked for comment, Salameh told Reuters the request for cooperation was a "normal procedure" not a "legal suit." He said: "If they had filed a legal suit they don't need help in the investigation."

The report mentioned that Salameh denied reports that he had been charged by Luxembourg authorities, and said both Switzerland and France had previously requested similar cooperation from Lebanon.

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A spokesperson for the French embassy in Lebanon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Swiss attorney generals office last year said it had requested legal assistance from Lebanon in the context of a probe into "aggravated money laundering" and possible embezzlement of more than $300 million under Salameh at the central bank.

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It should be noted that France and Liechtenstein have also opened probes into alleged money laundering in relation to Salameh.

Source: gulfnews

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