Central banker Riad Salameh. (Credit : AFP/File photo)
Switzerland's financial regulatory authority has investigated 12 banks and launched enforcement proceedings against two of them in relation to corruption charges against longtime central banker Riad Salameh, it said on Monday.
Lebanese authorities charged Salameh, his brother Raja and one of his assistants on Thursday with money laundering, embezzlement and illicit enrichment, after months of delay.
The Salameh brothers have denied any wrongdoings. The central bank governor declared his innocence to Reuters last Thursday, saying the charges were "not an indictment" and pledged to abide by judicial procedures.
The charges are the product of an 18-month probe by Lebanon into whether Salameh and his brother Raja embezzled more than $300 million from the Central Bank between 2002 and 2015.
The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) on Monday said it has investigated 12 banks in relation to allegations of money laundering linked to the case.
"In the context of Lebanon, FINMA carried out investigations at approximately a dozen banks," a spokesman said.
"In two cases, FINMA opened enforcement proceedings."
Enforcement proceedings occur when FINMA detects failures at a bank and works to clarify what has gone wrong and what measures need to be taken to prevent future breaches of money laundering regulations.
In serious cases, FINMA can impose measures on banks and refer matters to the Swiss federal prosecutors if criminal breaches are suspected.
FINMA declined to comment on the nature of the enforcement proceedings in the case, or reveal the names of the banks involved.
The Salameh brothers allegedly transferred some $330 million to Swiss accounts via the offshore company Forry Associates, which is registered in the British Virgin Islands, Swiss newspaper SonntagsZeitung reported.
According to SonntagsZeitung, substantial sums were used to purchase real estate in several European Union countries.
Some $250 million went into Raja Salameh's personal account at the HSBC branch in Geneva, the newspaper said. Other sums were deposited at UBS, Credit Suisse, Julius Baer, EFG and Pictet, it added.
Julius Baer, UBS, HSBC and Credit Suisse declined to comment to Reuters, while the other two banks mentioned in the report did not respond to a request for comment.
The Swiss foundation Accountability Now had filed complaints with FINMA against Bank Audi, BankMed, HSBC and Julius Baer in connection with alleged financial crimes committed by Salameh.
Bank Audi Suisse declined to comment on Monday, while BankMed Suisse did not immediately respond.