Lebanese Prosecution Opens Investigation into Central Bank Governor and His Brother

A judicial source said on Friday that the Lebanese public prosecution has opened an investigation against the Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, Riad Salameh, following a Swiss legal request alleging embezzlement of over 300 million dollars from the bank through a company owned by Salameh's brother. A senior judicial source indicated that the offices of Raji, Riad Salameh's younger brother, have been sealed and the contents, including computers and files, confiscated as part of the investigation. The public prosecutor has not yet issued any comment. Riad Salameh, who denies any wrongdoing, did not comment when asked by Reuters about the investigation and the closure of his brother's office and the confiscated files. The Central Bank of Lebanon declined to comment and did not provide information to contact Raji Salameh, and Reuters has not yet received a response from him. The Swiss public prosecutor's office stated in January that it requested legal assistance from Lebanon regarding an investigation into "serious money laundering" and potential embezzlement linked to the Central Bank of Lebanon.