The Public Prosecution Office of Appeal announced, in a statement, "the summary of the first phase of the European judicial delegation's mission in Lebanon," noting that it has completed the execution of requests for judicial assistance directed to it by France, Germany, and Luxembourg, within diplomatic frameworks, in investigations concerning financial transfers made in those countries.
The work began with a meeting held on Monday, January 16, 2023, which brought together the Public Prosecutor, Judge Ghassan Oueidat, with a joint European judicial investigation team, including French investigating judges Aude Burezi and Serge Tournaire, financial public prosecutor Quentin Dandoy, and Luxembourg investigation judge Martine Kraus, along with several investigators, during which working procedures were agreed upon.
Subsequently, upon the assignment from the Public Prosecutor, the deputy public prosecutor Judge Emely Mirna Klass chaired sessions to hear testimonies from three former deputies to the Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, along with directors at the Central Bank and Lebanese bankers, as well as an auditor, after the Central Criminal Investigations Department, headed by Colonel Nicolas Saad, properly notified them. This department worked with the Information Branch - the rapid response unit of the Internal Security Forces and the special group of the Judicial Police to ensure security protection for the delegations and the courtroom and its surroundings.
The sessions were held confidentially with the presence of the joint investigation team from the three requesting countries, the deputy public prosecutor Judge Imad Qablan, and followed the procedures outlined in Lebanese laws. The sessions extended over five days in the main courtroom of the Court of Cassation, where judicial assistants Kamelia Barbar and Fatima Maad assisted in typing the records that would be deposited in copies to the requesting authorities according to applicable diplomatic protocols. Simultaneous translation was provided by translators Iskal Abdullah and Zaha Qzi Gharib, as well as translator Youssef Okesh for the German language.
In conclusion, an evaluative meeting was held with the Public Prosecutor, where the judicial delegations expressed their full readiness to execute requests directed to them by Lebanon in accordance with the principle of reciprocity, while thanking for the hospitality extended to them. The Public Prosecution Office of Appeal expressed its appreciation for the efforts made. This judicial cooperation is part of Lebanon's commitment to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and its internal Lebanese laws.
