European investigators interrogated Lebanon’s embattled central bank governor Riad Salameh on Thursday for five hours, asking more than 100 questions in relation to charges that he embezzled more than $300 million from the central bank with the help of his brother.
Another session is scheduled for Friday.
"The co-operation went smoothly," a source close to the matter confirmed to The National.
It is an important step in the international investigation into Mr Salameh involving at least six European countries because it is the first time foreign judges will confront the bank governor with their evidence.
The delegation of European officials is expected to come back in April to hear Raja Salameh, the governor's brother, the source added, before pressing any charges — provided they feel they have enough evidence.
There was a strong police presence at Beirut's Justice Palace on Thursday morning as he arrived.
Mr Salameh had failed to appear for the scheduled hearing on Wednesday, leaving the European delegation waiting for hours.
His lawyer presented procedural arguments saying the attendance of foreign officials is a breach of Lebanon’s sovereignty.
This argument was dismissed by the assigned Lebanese judge, who rescheduled the hearing for Thursday.
It is the first time foreign judges were able to confront Mr Salameh and present him with their evidence.
The EU officials will be able to watch the Lebanese judge in charge of the case asking their prepared questions, a judicial source said previously.
Lebanon is entrenched in a devastating economic crisis that first became apparent in 2019 and which has been blamed on decades of financial mismanagement and corruption.
Many consider Mr Salameh to have been an engineer of the system that has now collapsed. His is the biggest international case involving a top Lebanese official.
On Wednesday, Judge Helena Iskandar, the president of the cases authority at the ministry of justice and representative of the Lebanese state in the European case, issued charges for money laundering, bribery, forgery, illicit enrichment and tax evasion against Mr Salameh, his brother Raja Salameh and his assistant Marianne Hoayek.
A judicial source told The National that Wednesday's charges were not a consequence of the central bank head failing to appear, but followed a warning 10 days ago from Judge Iskandar.
Mr Salameh, whose 30-year term is due to end later this year, denies the charges against him. He has said he does not seek to extend his term.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17
At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253
Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter
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UAE SQUAD
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Sara El Bakkali bt Anisha Kadka
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Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
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Feeding the thousands for iftar
Six industrial scale vats of 500litres each are used to cook the kanji or broth
Each vat contains kanji or porridge to feed 1,000 people
The rice porridge is poured into a 500ml plastic box
350 plastic tubs are placed in one container trolley
Each aluminium container trolley weighing 300kg is unloaded by a small crane fitted on a truck
The specs
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Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
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The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
T20 SQUADS
Australia: Aaron Finch (c), Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa.
Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Hussain Talat, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan Shinwari, Hassan Ali, Imad Wasim, Waqas Maqsood, Faheem Ashraf.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
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