The Justice Palace in Beirut. (Credit: Philippe Hage Boutros/L'Orient-Le Jour)
BEIRUT — Banque du Liban (BDL) governor Riad Salameh faced two hours of questioning Tuesday by investigating judge Charbel Abou Samra at the Beirut Justice Palace, a source at the palace confirmed to L'Orient-Le Jour.
His brother Raja and his former assistant, Marianne Hoayek, were also summoned to the court but were not questioned.
The 10:30 a.m. hearing was the second time the three, who are facing charges of forgery and money laundering, appeared before Abou Samra. The first hearing took place last Wednesday before the same judge.
During the hearing, Judge Abou Samra asked his own questions in addition to questions submitted by Head of the State Legal Department, Hélène Iskandar, who had joined the case to protect the interests of the Lebanese state in this case, a senior judicial source told L'Orient-Le Jour.
Riad Salameh brought with him two boxes containing the documents he had agreed at the previous hearing he would submit.
Salameh himself had to answer Judge Abou Samra's questions, the senior judicial source added, as his lawyer was not allowed to.
Another hearing has been set for July 25 to question Raja Salameh and Marianne Hoayek, the source said.
In the light of Tuesday's testimonies, Abou Samra will decide whether it is necessary to summon the governor again, or whether he is in a position to either dismiss the case or charge him.
Riad Salameh, 72 years old, has been in charge of BDL since 1993.
He is accused of being one of the main culprits behind the country's financial crisis.
Salameh is also under investigation in several European countries, where he is suspected of amassing substantial real estate and banking wealth through a complex financial setup and massive misappropriation of Lebanese public funds.
Additional reporting by Claude Assaf.