A Lebanese prosecutor charged central bank governor Riad Salameh with dereliction of duty and breach of trust over the alleged misuse of millions of dollars provided by the regulator last year.
Judge Ghada Aoun has been investigating claims that dollars provided by the central bank through an electronic trading platform to help people pay for essential needs and expenses were sold on the black market, where they fetch a higher price.
Between $5 million and $7m were squandered from June through December, Ms Aoun told Bloomberg. Thirty-seven financial institutions including money exchange bureaus profited from such transactions, she said.
Mr Salameh did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment, and Ms Aoun referred the case to an investigative judge.
Mr Salameh, who has steered the country through the best and worst of times since 1993, is entangled in a separate Swiss investigation into possible embezzlement from the Lebanese central bank.
The Swiss didn't identify the target of their money-laundering probe, but Lebanon's Al Akhbar newspaper reported an alleged transfer of some $400m linked to Mr Salameh.
The governor has denied wrongdoing in the Swiss case. The head of the central bank enjoys immunity from legal prosecution under Lebanese law, so a judge needs the approval of the government before pursuing a case as actions against the governor risk monetary stability.
Faced with its worst financial crisis in decades, Lebanon’s currency has come undone, reaching around 8,800 pounds a dollar on the black market.
The central bank continues to subsidise fuel and wheat at the official exchange rate of 1,500 per dollar. The subsidised rate that applied to the electronic platform was 3,900.
Fifa Club World Cup:
When: December 6-16
Where: Games to take place at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi and Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain
Defending champions: Real Madrid
Syria squad
Goalkeepers: Ibrahim Alma, Mahmoud Al Youssef, Ahmad Madania.
Defenders: Ahmad Al Salih, Moayad Ajan, Jehad Al Baour, Omar Midani, Amro Jenyat, Hussein Jwayed, Nadim Sabagh, Abdul Malek Anezan.
Midfielders: Mahmoud Al Mawas, Mohammed Osman, Osama Omari, Tamer Haj Mohamad, Ahmad Ashkar, Youssef Kalfa, Zaher Midani, Khaled Al Mobayed, Fahd Youssef.
Forwards: Omar Khribin, Omar Al Somah, Mardik Mardikian.
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Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
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England squad
Joe Root (captain), Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Gary Ballance, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Ben Stokes (vice-captain), Moeen Ali, Liam Dawson, Toby Roland-Jones, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, James Anderson.
Naga
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UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food