The French judiciary has issued an arrest warrant for Lebanon's central bank head Riad Salameh after he failed to attend a hearing in Paris on Tuesday, two sources told The National.
Mr Salameh, his brother Raja and the central bank chief's assistant are being investigated in Lebanon and at least six European countries over the alleged embezzlement of more than $330 million from the Lebanese central bank.
AFP news agency reported that the judge had issued an international arrest warrant.
Judges could now also request an Interpol red notice, which would serve as a global call to law enforcement agencies to find and temporarily detain him. This would effectively prevent him from leaving Lebanon which rarely complies with such notices.
Mr Salameh said the arrest warrant “constitutes a clear violation of the most basic laws,” including French and international laws, and that he will appeal it.
In a communiqué released on Tuesday, Mr Salameh said the French investigation neglected the “confidentiality of investigations”, and contradicted “the presumption of innocence” in its approach, and in its selective application of texts and laws.
The French judge “has made her decision based on preconceived ideas without giving any value to clear supporting documents”, he said.
“This is the justice built on double standards that is being applied here!”
No show at hearing in Paris
The hearing was set for 9.30am on Tuesday, according to court documents seen by Reuters, at which French prosecutors intended to press preliminary charges and formally name Riad Salameh as a suspect.
The National reported on Monday that he had failed to respond to a summons sent by the Lebanese judiciary for the hearing in France.
Beirut judge Charbel Abou Samra tried to contact Mr Salameh to make him aware of the hearing on three occasions, but the governor ― or a representative who could sign for him ― could not be reached.
All the notification letters were returned to the Lebanese judiciary.
The date for Tuesday’s hearing was set last month and Lebanon lifted a travel ban on Mr Salameh for him to make the journey.
Reuters reported that another judicial source said defence lawyers for the Salamehs and for the central bank chief's assistant Marianne Hoayek had submitted an objection to Lebanon's judiciary over the French case, saying France should not be allowed to try a case already being investigated in Lebanon.
The three have been charged in two separate cases in Lebanon. The Salameh brothers have denied any wrongdoing.
Lebanese banker and former minister Marwan Kheireddine has already been indicted by a court in Paris “for aggravated money laundering charges and participation in a criminal conspiracy”, the French deputy financial prosecutor said in April.
He is suspected of having falsified banking documents supposed to account for Riad Salameh's wealth.
In July 2022, Anna Kosakova, a former partner of the central bank governor, was placed under formal investigation in France over alleged criminal conspiracy, organised money laundering, and aggravated tax fraud laundering.
During a visit to Lebanon in March, a delegation of European prosecutors questioned Riad Salameh about the Lebanese central bank’s assets and investments outside the country, a Paris apartment – which he owns – and Raja Salameh's brokerage firm Forry Associates.
Investigators are looking into whether Forry was used as a vehicle to siphon off the state funds.
The visit by the judicial delegation was one of several they have made this year.
Riad Salameh, 72, has held his post for almost 30 years but is expected to step down when his term ends in this summer ― although a successor has not yet been lined up. He insists he has made his money through his previous earnings as an investment banker, investments and other legal ways.
As the long-term head of the central bank, he has been one of the key figures held responsible for the 2019 economic collapse in Lebanon that has been blamed on decades of mismanagement and corruption among the country's ruling elite – including its banking sector.
The financial crisis, described as one of the worst in modern history, has plunged much of the population into poverty, with soaring inflation and the introduction of informal capital control laws that have locked depositors out of much of their life savings.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
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- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
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Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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