Raja Salameh Absents from Investigation for the Second Day

Raja Salameh, the brother of the Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, has failed to appear before European judges for the second consecutive day. The judges are investigating money laundering and embezzlement cases linked to Riad Salameh, who has been managing the central bank for about 30 years. European investigators from France, Germany, Belgium, and Luxembourg had scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday for Raja Salameh's interrogation, but he provided a medical excuse these days. Raja Salameh's lawyer informed the investigators that his client is still suffering from severe abdominal pain and is unable to endure long hours of questioning. The European judges expressed their strong annoyance at Salameh's absence and are not convinced by the medical reasons provided to justify his non-appearance. This marks the third visit by European investigators to Lebanon to listen, in the presence of Lebanese judges, to witnesses in investigations related to the wealth of the central bank governor. They are expected to hear from his assistant, Marian Al-Hweik, on Thursday.