The Mount Lebanon’s Indictment Chamber, led by judge Pierre Francis, approved the release of Raja Salameh from jail on Tuesday, after dismissing the appeal filed by Mount Lebanon Prosecutor Judge, Ghada Aoun.
Judge Francis also agreed to reduce the bail value from LBP 500 billion to LBP 200 billion, or approximately $8 million.
Raja Salameh’s lawyer had previously criticized the bail amount that Judge Nicolas Mansour had demanded, arguing that it is an uncommon and an illogical amount in the history of the Lebanese judiciary.
Last month, the Attorney General in Mount Lebanon Judge Ghada Aoun arrested Riad Salameh’s brother – Raja Salameh – after questioning him for hours.
Reportedly, Judge Aoun charged Raja Salameh with Illicit enrichment and alleged embezzling involvement with his brother, Riad Salameh, governor of Lebanon’s Central Bank.
She ordered the detainment of the 61-year-old businessman at the Baabda courthouse.
Riad and Raja Salameh have been under investigation for money laundering and illegal enrichment.
Previously, French authorities uncovered financial misconduct by Riad Salamehin Paris.
Adding to it, the Central Bank Governor is also the main suspect in the money laundering investigations by Germany, France, and Luxemburg over alleged embezzlement of $330 million.
