Caretaker Justice Minister Henry Khoury. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — Caretaker Justice Minister Henri Khoury, in a Monday evening interview with Al-Hurra TV, denied that the domestic probe into Banque du Liban (BDL) governor Riad Salameh is obstructing the foreign-led probe, the state-run National News Agency reported.
"The foreign judiciary can take measures, procedures and decisions according to the findings of its investigations," said Khoury.
Lebanon opened an embezzlement probe parallel to European investigations following a request for assistance from Switzerland's public prosecutor probing the movement of more than $300 million by Salameh and his brother, Raja.
The 72-year-old BDL governor is the subject of several domestic and international investigations over suspicions of money laundering and illicit enrichment.
In January, investigators from France, Germany and Luxembourg interviewed banking officials in Beirut about the transfer of funds to countries where Salameh has significant assets.
They also examined the central bank's ties to Forry Associates Ltd, a British Virgin Islands-registered company that listed Raja Salameh as its beneficiary.
Forry is suspected of having brokered Lebanese treasury bonds and Eurobonds at a commission, which was then allegedly transferred to his bank accounts abroad.
On Monday, a Lebanese judge summoned Salameh for questioning scheduled for next week, according to a judicial official.
When asked whether it is legally permissible to extend Salameh's term if the political authority desires, despite the ongoing legal proceedings, the caretaker Justice Minister said: “A person is not convicted before a judgment is issued against him. But in politics, we have heard more than one reference and a political group confirming that there will be no extension for the bank governor."
Khoury said Lebanon is expecting another visit from the European judicial delegation in March, "but the possibility of completing what they started is a matter that has not yet been decided on, and the [Lebanese] state can tell the European judiciary that it is conducting a local investigation."
Another Lebanese judicial source told AFP that the European investigators' work might be hindered by the local charges leveled against the bank chief in the same case.
Salameh denies all accusations against him and has rarely appeared before the judiciary, despite numerous complaints and summonses.
Beirut blast probe
Upon resuming his probe at the end of January, lead investigative judge into the Beirut port blast, Tarek Bitar, immediately decided to release five of the 17 detainees implicated in the investigation. He then initiated proceedings against politicians, civil servants and judges, including Prosecutor General at the Court of Cassation Ghassan Oueidat.
"Many questions arise here because the [charges] against the Public Prosecutor of Cassation have special principles stipulated in the principles of criminal trials," said Khoury, commenting on the issue.
Khoury also said the Judicial Council "has not yet taken any position" on the imminent appointment of a judge to rule on the complaints against Bitar, initiated by Oueidat at the end of January.
That same month, Oueidat also released all the suspects detained in the probe, stoking the anger of the relatives of the blast's more than 220 victims and 6,500 wounded.
Khoury denied that Hezbollah's threats against Bitar are "stumbling blocks to the port's investigations."