Lebanon’s central bank can be made to hand over documents it is withholding from a forensic audit, the country’s Justice Minister told The National on Thursday.
The International Monetary Fund and formal colonial power France have insisted on major reforms and transparency before they stump up cash, including an audit of Banque du Liban.
BDL handed over less than half of the documents requested by accounting firm Alvarez & Marsal, citing concerns over breaking a 1956 banking secrecy law.
Mrs Najm said if the banking secrecy law was the reason given not to hand over the records, MPs could change it. All main political blocs agree it is essential as financial aid hinges on the audit, she said.
“If MPs believe that the law should be changed to exclude banking secrecy from the forensic audit, all they must do is change it. But I persist in saying that this is beside the point.”
Earlier this month the government gave the BDL a 3 month-extension to hand over the documents, as critics suggested the BDL was purposely keeping the documents to avoid oversight.
“The ball is in [the BDL’s] court,” said Mrs Najm.
