Marianne Hoayek, a senior adviser at Lebanon's Central Bank and a former assistant to Governor Riad Salameh, has been indicted for money laundering as part of an investigation into the alleged embezzlement of more than $330 million.
She was also indicted for criminal conspiracy and placed under judicial supervision with a prohibition on contact and exercising at the central bank, and an obligation to pay a bail of €1.5 million after her hearing before a judge in France on Friday.
Ms Hoayek, 43, is suspected of having received funds embezzled from Lebanon's Central Bank through Forry Associates, a company owned by Riad Salameh's brother, Raja Salameh. He is suspected of playing a pivotal role in an alleged money laundering scheme within the central bank.
Investigators suspect Forry was created to siphon money by taking a 0.38 per cent commission from the Bank of Lebanon each time it bought instruments, including certificates of deposit, Eurobonds and Treasury bills, without performing any services in exchange.
The money was then used to purchase expensive property in Europe, including Germany, France and Belgium, and the UK belonging to the governor and his relatives.
“Marianne Hoayek contests these accusations and will provide proof that these funds came mainly from donations from her father,” her lawyer Mario Stasi told AFP. Ms Hoayek's late father was a wealthy businessman.
According to a leaked request for assistance from Swiss investigators to the Lebanese judiciary in 2021, Ms Hoayek is suspected of having received at least $1.1 million from Forry through her company, Rise Invest SA, between 2008 and 2013.
Switzerland is one of six European countries, along with France, investigating transactions related to the alleged embezzlement from the central bank.
In March 2022, authorities in France, Germany, and Luxembourg seized assets worth €120 million ($130 million) related to Mr Salameh as part of co-ordinated operation.
This is the third indictment in the French investigation into the governor since the case was entrusted to Judge Aude Buresi in 2021.
In March, Marwan Kheireddine, chief executive of Lebanese bank Al Mawarid, was indicted in Paris for the same charges. He is suspected of having falsified bank documents to account for Riad Salameh's wealth.
In July 2022, Anna Kosakova, 46, the romantic partner of Riad Salameh, was also indicted for criminal conspiracy, organised money laundering and aggravated tax fraud.
Once praised as the guardian of the financial sector, Mr Salameh, 72, is now facing growing accusations over the country's financial collapse.
He has denied any wrongdoing.
He said he accumulated his fortune when working for US investment bank Merrill Lynch before assuming the role of governor at the central bank in 1993.
The French and German judiciaries have issued arrest warrants for Riad Salameh over accusations including money laundering and fraud, which led to Interpol issuing a Red Notice in May.
He was then questioned by a Lebanese judge in Beirut, who confiscated his French and Lebanese passports and banned him from leaving the country, without making a decision regarding his potential removal from office.
Mr Salameh continues to serve as the governor of the central bank until his mandate expires in July.
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
The Rub of Time: Bellow, Nabokov, Hitchens, Travolta, Trump and Other Pieces 1986-2016
Martin Amis,
Jonathan Cape
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The%20specs
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The five pillars of Islam
Results
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Second Test, Day 2:
South Africa 335 & 75/1 (22.0 ov)
England 205
South Africa lead by 205 runs with 9 wickets remaining
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2a)
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FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT)
Tuesday
Mairobr v Liverpool
Spartak Moscow v Sevilla
Feyenoord v Shakhtar Donetsk
Manchester City v Napoli
Monaco v Besiktas
RB Leipzig v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Borussia Dortmund
Real Madrid v Tottenham Hotspur
Wednesday
Benfica v Manchester United
CSKA Moscow v Basel
Bayern Munich v Celtic
Anderlecht v Paris Saint-Germain
Qarabag v Atletico Madrid
Chelsea v Roma
Barcelona v Olympiakos
Juventus v Sporting Lisbon
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Results
5pm Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner No Riesgo Al Maury, Szczepan Mazur (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner Marwa W’Rsan, Sam Hitchcott, Jaci Wickham.
6pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner Dahess D’Arabie, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Helal Al Alawi.
6.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m
Winner Safin Al Reef, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
7pm Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 2,200m
Winner Thulbaseera Al Jasra, Shakir Al Balushi, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.
7.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh 80,000 2,200m
Winner Autumn Pride, Szczepan Mazur, Helal Al Alawi.
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
