BEIRUT: An investigative judge on Wednesday sued Lebanon’s police chief after accusing him of preventing security forces from bringing in for questioning the central bank governor, who is accused of corruption.
The move by Judge Ghada Aoun came a day after she said that a police force prevented members of State Security, an intelligence agency, from bringing central bank governor Riad Salameh from his home for questioning.
Aoun said Tuesday that she has sent a formal letter to Internal Security Force chief Maj. Gen. Imad Osman, asking for an explanation regarding the incident. She said fighting authorities and preventing the implementation of a judicial order as Osman did, is an offense.
It was not immediately clear if Osman will show up for questioning by a Lebanese judge next week.
Salameh, who is accused of corruption and dereliction of duty during Lebanon’s historic economic meltdown, is being sued by a Lebanese anti-corruption group. The value of the national currency has plunged, foreign reserves are running low and the highly indebted government has been unable to agree on an economic recovery plan.
Salameh is also being investigated in several countries including Switzerland, Luxembourg and France for potential money laundering and embezzlement.
The division between Internal Security Forces and State Security mirrors the rivalry between the country’s politicians. Osman is considered close to former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who quit politics last month, and was a main opponent of President Michel Aoun, who backs the head of State Security.
The judge has been also been blamed of being close to the president. They are both from the same family but not related.
Lebanese judge sues police chief over central bank governor
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Lebanese judge sues police chief over central bank governor
- Aoun sent a formal letter to Internal Security Force chief asking for an explanation regarding the incident
- It was not immediately clear if Osman will show up for questioning by a Lebanese judge next week
Syria begins mine clearance at UNESCO-listed Ruwayha site in Idlib
- Teams are conducting field surveys and clearing minefields to support restoration efforts and provide a safe environment for visitors
DUBAI: Engineering teams have begun removing mines and unexploded ordnance from the archaeological site of Ruwayha in southern Idlib, Syria’s state news agency SANA reported on Tuesday.
The operation is part of a broader plan by the Idlib Directorate of Antiquities to protect and preserve historical sites across the Jabal Al-Zawiya region, which includes more than ten locations listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Ruwayha is part of the UNESCO-listed “Ancient Villages of Northern Syria,” a collection of well-preserved Byzantine-era settlements dating back to the 4th and 6th centuries.
Hassan Al-Ismail, director of antiquities in Idlib, said the project aims to clear war remnants, document damage caused during the conflict, and allow local communities to safely access the sites.
“The primary goal is to remove mines and war remnants from archaeological sites and enable the local community to return, while revitalizing domestic tourism and reopening the country to visitors,” Al-Ismail told SANA.
The work is being carried out in cooperation with the Heritage for Peace organization and under the supervision of the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums, with coordination from the Ministry of Defense, which deployed specialized engineering units.
