From previous protests in Lebanon against the policy of the Central Bank Governor, Riad Salameh (archive – France Press)
In an interview with Al Arabiya Net
While the European investigators, who have been in Beirut since last Monday, were supposed to hear yesterday from the Governor of the Banque du Liban, Riad Salameh, in the judicial authorization issued by the European judiciary on suspicion of his and his brother Raja’s involvement in cases of embezzlement of public funds, the man was absent from the session, considering that his summoning to an investigation session European is a violation of Lebanese sovereignty.
However, another judicial development took place yesterday as well, and occupied the Lebanese. The Lebanese state, represented by Judge Helena Iskandar, head of the Cases Authority at the Ministry of Justice, filed a personal claim against the Governor of the Banque du Liban and his brother Raja and Marianne Howayek, according to the claim of the Public Prosecution Office of Appeal in Beirut.
It requested their arrest, the confiscation of their real estate properties, and the freezing of their bank accounts and the accounts of their spouses and minor children, to prevent them from disposing of them in order to preserve the rights of the Lebanese state.
So what happened?
In order for questions to spread like wildfire among the Lebanese, this procedure took place.
Whereas, Judge Helena Iskandar explained to Al-Arabiya.net that “the prosecution of Salama has nothing to do with the European judicial representation,” pointing out that “when the hearings against him by the European investigators end, the investigating judge sets a date for the hearing in the case of the prosecution against him.” by the Public Prosecution Office.
She also explained that “it was supposed to claim against the Governor of the Banque du Liban, his brother, and his assistance before the current March 15, but the arrival of the European delegation to Lebanon and its request to hear from him on this date prompted her to postpone the claim until yesterday.”
Banque du Liban Governor Riad Salameh (Archyde.com)
The country is affected
And she pointed out, “The Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Cassation conducted investigations by the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, Judge Jean Tannous, regarding the Governor of the Banque du Liban, his brother, and his assistant, and at its conclusion it filed a report requesting prosecution against them, and since the Lebanese state is affected by the crimes of bribery, forgery, use of counterfeiters, money laundering, illegal enrichment, and tax evasion.” which were mentioned in the prosecution, I requested seizure of their money and property until the issuance of the indictment.
Judge Iskandar also indicated that “she will review the file of the European investigations regarding Salameh in order to benefit from it in the prosecution case against him in the name of the Lebanese state.” And she emphasized, “She is carrying out her duties as a judge. As for stopping the hand of the Governor of the Banque du Liban from working until the investigations are completed, it is up to the government.”
And with the absence of the Governor of the Banque du Liban from yesterday’s session after one of his legal agents submitted an explanatory memorandum, in which he considered that summoning him to a European investigation session is a violation of Lebanese sovereignty, he is supposed to personally attend Thursday’s session after the discriminatory Public Prosecution rejected the clarification memorandum.
Slogans against Riad Salameh’s monetary policy in Lebanon (archive – France Press)
In the context, a senior judicial source confirmed to Al-Arabiya.net, “The Lebanese judiciary is carrying out a European judicial review in accordance with the International Anti-Corruption Treaty, which Lebanon has signed.” He explained, “The judiciary will hear the Governor of the Banque du Liban, in the presence of European investigators, not as a defendant, but within the framework of “gathering information”, exactly as stated in the European Representation.”
European measures
In addition, the judicial source indicated, “If Salameh is absent from today’s session, it is up to the European investigators, and not the Lebanese judiciary, to take appropriate legal measures.”
The hearing session with the Governor of the Banque du Liban will be held in the presence of a French judge and a representative of the German state, and the first investigating judge in Beirut, Judge Charbel Abu Samra, will ask Salameh about a hundred questions that the European investigators deposited with him.
Safety’s hand
These judicial developments come as questions escalate in Lebanon about the reasons why Salameh did not stop the job entrusted to him, pending the completion of the discriminatory and European Public Prosecution investigations as well.
However, the head of the Justicia Foundation for Human Rights, Dr. Paul Morcos, explained to Al-Arabiya.net, “The monetary and credit law does not permit the dismissal of the ruler in a judicial context, unless a ruling is issued against him, and that in all cases is by a decision of two-thirds of the members who form the government in accordance with Article 65. From the constitution, the matter is impossible at present, unless the government considers that the ruler’s current situation calls for this step because of the growing reputation risks and the supreme interest of the state, with the possibilities of being challenged by him before the State Consultative Council.
As for the course of the European investigation, Marfas explained, “There is nothing in the legal principle that prevents European judges from proceeding with their investigations until reaching the stage of issuing warrants and rulings, even if Lebanon stops cooperating and wants to activate Paragraph 25 of Article 46 of the Anti-Corruption Agreement, which allows it to seek cooperation.” Until the end of the Lebanese investigation, which I do not see in the foreseeable future.