Bank chief Salameh and wife face illicit enrichment charges
Lebanese public prosecutor Ghada Aoun on Friday filed charges against central bank governor Riad Salameh, his wife Nada Karam and actress Stephanie Saliba on suspicion of illicit enrichment.
Ms Aoun asked Mount Lebanon’s first investigating judge Nicolas Mansour to issue arrest warrants against the three in their absence.
Mr Salameh is scheduled to attend a court hearing in France, one of at least six European countries where he is being investigated for allegedly embezzling more than $330 million from the central bank with the help of relatives.
Media reports said French judiciary officials have notified Mr Salameh of their intention to press preliminary charges of fraud and money laundering at the hearing tomorrow.
Ms Aoun told The National that she had obtained documents during the raid of the governor’s residence last year, which she claimed provided evidence of illicit enrichment, from which his wife also allegedly benefitted.
She said she also examined Lebanon’s land registry, where she found that Lebanese actress Ms Saliba, who is known to be close to the governor, owned properties.
Ms Saliba was briefly detained in December upon her arrival in Beirut, after Ms Aoun brought charges against Mr Salameh for allegedly using misappropriated money to buy Ms Saliba gifts, including property.
Ms Aoun also lodged a complaint against Lebanon and Gulf Bank, where Ms Saliba allegedly holds most of her money.
Ms Aoun was dismissed from her post on May 4. She has appealed against the decision before the High Disciplinary Court and remains in position until a ruling is made.
The reasons behind her dismissal have not been disclosed, but Ms Aoun has been criticised for her unconventional methods.
She has pursued high-ranking officials and banks during the economic crisis that has unfolded in Lebanon since 2019, after decades of mismanagement.
She made headlines in March last year when she charged Mr Salameh and his brother Raja with illicit enrichment.