The Special Investigation Commission for Combating Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing at Lebanon's Central Bank announced today, Monday, that it has decided to freeze the bank accounts of former central bank governor Riad Salameh and his associates, lifting confidentiality on them. The first deputy governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, Wassim Mansouri, issued a decision stating that "the Special Investigation Commission, after reviewing the report from the Commission's Secretary-General and deliberating, unanimously decided to freeze all accounts belonging directly or indirectly to Riad, Nadi, and Raja Salameh, Mariam Al-Hweik, and Anna Kuzakova, permanently at all banks and financial institutions operating in Lebanon, and to lift banking confidentiality regarding them in front of the competent judicial authorities, excluding salary accounts from this decision."
Background
Salameh served as governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon from 1993 until July 31, 2023. Arrest warrants were issued against him in France and Germany following investigations into whether he and his brother embezzled $330 million in public funds from the bank during his tenure, according to "Reuters." The brothers and Al-Hweik face charges in Lebanon for embezzlement and other financial crimes. The brothers deny the accusations against them. Nadi Salameh did not respond to a request from "Reuters" for comment. Lawyers for Al-Hweik and Kuzakova did not respond to two requests from Reuters for comments.
Salameh denied the allegations made by the three countries in messages to "Reuters" and stated that he would appeal them. He added that the authorities had already frozen some of his assets in previous investigations. The European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation announced in March 2022 the freezing of Lebanese assets amounting to €120 million (approximately $130 million) in France, Germany, Luxembourg, Monaco, and Belgium in a case where prosecutors in Munich stated that Salameh is among the suspects. In July, French authorities approved the transfer of Salameh and his associates' frozen assets to the Lebanese state.
Lebanese law stipulates that the governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon presides over the Special Investigation Commission. As no replacement for Salameh has been appointed yet, the first deputy governor, Wassim Mansouri, is acting as the head of the commission as acting governor. Today’s statement is signed by Mansouri.
