In early 2021, Switzerland became the first European country to write to Lebanon regarding financial transfer requests to Salameh, his brother Raja, his assistant Marianne Howayek and institutions linked to the central bank.
Subsequently, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Monaco and Belgium took similar action against the governor on suspicion of embezzlement and corruption.
According to the information published here, the Swiss judicial delegation will soon arrive in Beirut with the aim of meeting with the first investigating judge, Charbel Abu Samra, who is leading the investigation on the ground and coordinating with the European judges.
The purpose of the visit is to update the Swiss judiciary on the financial files of Salameh and his associates following hearings of European experts recently held in that capital.
The Swiss public prosecutor’s office asked the competent local authorities for assistance in connection with a money laundering investigation in connection with a possible embezzlement by the Banque du Liban.
In April 2021, the Lebanese judiciary launched a local investigation into Salameh’s wealth and origins.
Last month, a judge in France and another in Germany issued two arrest warrants against the governor, which were distributed through the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).
A year ago, the European Union Agency for Criminal Law Cooperation helped freeze about $132 million in assets belonging to Lebanese people in France, Germany, Luxembourg, Monaco and Belgium, including property and bank accounts.
Salameh is believed by many to be primarily responsible for the current collapse and has been in office since 1993. This makes him one of the longest-serving central bank governors in the world. His term of office ends in July.
npg/yma