Lebanon to quiz embattled central bank chief: judicial source

Lebanon to quiz embattled central bank chief: judicial source

A Lebanese judge has summoned central bank governor Riad Salameh for questioning next week, a judicial official said Monday, as the crisis-hit country advances an embezzlement probe parallel to European investigations.

Salameh's brother Raja and former assistant Marianne Hoayek have also been summoned in the domestic probe launched in 2021, the official told AFP on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to discuss the matter with the media.

They were charged in Lebanon last month with embezzlement and money laundering, illicit enrichment and tax evasion, which the Salameh brothers have denied.

The official said judge Charbel Abu Samra "has set the date of March 15 to question" the three suspects.

Lebanon opened its probe following a request for assistance from Switzerland's public prosecutor probing more than $300 million in fund movements by Riad Salameh and his brother.

The 72-year-old central bank governor is the subject of several domestic and international investigations over suspicions of money laundering and illicit enrichment.

He denies all accusations against him and has rarely appeared before the judiciary, despite numerous complaints and summonses.

Last month, Swiss media reported that 12 banks in the European country had received a large part of the money Salameh is alleged to have embezzled -- estimated