The Governor of Lebanon’s Central Bank Riad Salameh has been summoned for questioning by the Investigative Judge of Mount Lebanon Ziad Makna, following a lawsuit against him by the alliance of anti-corruption lawyers, United for Lebanon (UFL).
The questioning, which is scheduled for May 7th, will encompass the UFL allegations against the central bank governor of embezzlement and abuse of office.
This development comes after the United States has opened an investigation over Salameh’s alleged embezzlement of public funds, and is now considering whether to impose sanctions on him, in coordination with European states, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday.
The sanctions, if applied, would freeze Salameh‘s assets overseas and “curtail his ability to do business abroad.”
It is to note that European authorities have been investigating Salameh, including several Lebanese figures, based on a “suspicion list” prepared in coordination between France, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Back in January, Switzerland and higher authorities in the E.U. had requested Lebanon’s assistance for information regarding transactions of nearly $400 million linked to Salameh, his brother Raja, and his assistant Marianne Hoayek.
