BEIRUT: Former Lebanese central bank chief Riad Salameh, who was arrested on Tuesday over alleged financial crimes, will remain in detention until a hearing is scheduled, likely next week, two judicial sources told Reuters on Wednesday.
After Salameh is interrogated, the presiding judge can decide whether to keep him in detention, the sources said, adding that no decision had yet been taken on the matter. One of them said the judge was expected to schedule a hearing for early next week.
Reuters could not immediately reach Salameh’s lawyer for comment.
Salameh, 73, was the bank governor for 30 years but his final years were marred by the collapse of Lebanon’s financial system along with charges of financial crimes, including illicit enrichment through public funds, by authorities in Lebanon and several Western countries.
Two judicial sources told Reuters on Tuesday that Salameh had been held on charges of accruing more than $110 million via financial crimes involving Optimum Invest, a Lebanese firm that offers income brokerage services.
The authorities have not published the charges against him.
Neither Salameh nor his lawyer responded to requests for comment on Tuesday. Salameh has previously denied all accusations of financial crimes.
Tuesday’s charges are separate from previous charges of financial crimes linked to Forry Associates, a company controlled by Salameh’s brother, Raja. The brothers — who deny any wrongdoing — were accused of using Forry to divert $330 million in public funds through commissions.
Lebanon’s Salameh to remain in detention until hearing is scheduled, sources say
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Lebanon’s Salameh to remain in detention until hearing is scheduled, sources say
- After Salameh is interrogated, the presiding judge can decide whether to keep him in detention, the sources said
- The judge was expected to schedule a hearing for early next week
Israeli forces demolish Palestinian facilities in Jericho
- Israeli authorities have conducted 538 demolitions in the past 12 months, totaling 1,400 structures
- Excluding East Jerusalem, there are about 3 million Palestinians and 500,000 Israeli settlers living in the West Bank
LONDON: Israeli authorities demolished a house on Thursday in the town of Deir Al-Dik, located west of Jericho in the West Bank, and issued a demolition order for another structure east of the city.
Israeli bulldozers stormed Deir Al-Dik and demolished a house belonging to a resident of Jerusalem, claiming it was built without a permit, according to the Wafa news agency.
Forces also demolished a barracks in the city that belonged to the Abu Jarar factory and issued a demolition order for another structure related to the Sinqrat palm grove, east of Jericho.
The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission reported that the Israeli authorities conducted 538 demolitions in the past 12 months, totaling 1,400 structures. This included 304 occupied homes, 74 unoccupied homes, 270 economic facilities and 490 agricultural facilities, primarily in Hebron, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Tubas and Nablus.
Excluding East Jerusalem, which was occupied and annexed by Israel in 1967, there are about 3 million Palestinians and 500,000 Israeli settlers living in the West Bank.
