Raja Salameh, the brother of Lebanon's former central bank governor Riad Salameh, has been placed under investigation in France as part of a corruption probe into the embezzlement of more than $330 million from the bank, a source close to the case confirmed to The National on Wednesday.
Following his hearing last week in Paris, Raja Salameh faces charges including criminal conspiracy, embezzlement of public funds, aggravated breach of trust, corruption, and organised money laundering, AFP reported, and the source confirmed.
He is suspected of having helped Riad Salameh embezzle more than $330 million through a slush fund at the central bank, which was allegedly used to acquire properties in Europe and the US.
Both brothers have denied the allegations.
“It is a crucial but anticipated development. The evasion ends here,” said William Bourdon, one of the lawyers representing the Sherpa association and the Collective Association of Victims of Fraudulent and Criminal Practices in Lebanon as civil parties in the case.
“The judicial puzzle of a massive diversion of public resources by a family clan and its allies is nearing completion.”
In February, Raja's son Emile Salameh was charged in France with criminal conspiracy, money laundering, and receiving stolen goods following his interrogation by a financial investigating judge.
Through financial arrangements facilitated by his father, Emile Salameh is suspected of having acquired two apartments in Paris and villas in Lebanon.
The National has previously reported on Raja Salameh’s property holdings in France and the US that are suspected to have been purchased with illicit funds, and suspicious transfers between Raja and Emile Salameh.
Since 2021, French authorities, along with several other EU countries, have been investigating money laundering linked to Lebanon's central bank chief between 1993 and 2023.
In May 2023, France issued an arrest warrant for Riad Salameh following a hearing in Paris. Raja Salameh had failed to appear at his hearing in France in April the same year, citing medical reasons.
France has also put others suspects under formal investigation, including Riad Salameh’s partner Anna Kosakova, Lebanese banker and former minister Marwan Kheireddine, senior BDL adviser Marianne Hoayek and Antoine Gholam, manager of Lebanese auditing firm BDO Semaan.
“Raja Salameh answered all questions put to him by the investigating magistrates, aiming to establish the truth,” his lawyer Karim Beylouni told AFP.
“Raja Salameh denies any wrongdoing, including participation in the alleged misappropriation of public funds. He aims to clear his name and that of his family,” he added.
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Company%20profile
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
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
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
WISH
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Where to buy art books in the UAE
There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.
In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show.
In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.
In Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum sells catalogues and art books at its museum shop, and the Sharjah Art Foundation has a bookshop that offers reads on art, theory and cultural history.
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
EU Russia
The EU imports 90 per cent of the natural gas used to generate electricity, heat homes and supply industry, with Russia supplying almost 40 per cent of EU gas and a quarter of its oil.
