Decision to release Salameh overturned by Indictment Chamber

BEIRUT — Early Thursday evening, Lebanon's Indictment Chamber overturned a decision by Beirut's first investigating judge, Charbel Abou Samra, to release former Banque du Liban governor Riad Salameh after his Wednesday interrogation.

At the end of the hearing, Abou Samra had asked Salameh to remain at the disposal of justice.

After Wednesday's questioning, the case file concerning Salameh was to be sent to the public prosecutor's office, who could either request Salameh's arrest or release, or leave the decision to the examining magistrate. However, the examining magistrate did not send the file to the public prosecutor's office. 

The Indictment Chamber's decision comes after Helene Iskandar, Head of the State Legal Department — who acted as a civil party in the Salameh case to protect the interests of the Lebanese State — appealed to overturn Abou Samra's decision. The appeal was submitted by Judge Iskandar within the 24-hour deadline.

The Indictment Chamber decided to summon the former governor for additional questioning on Wednesday, Aug. 9.

Salameh has been questioned for several weeks in connection with charges brought against him by the Lebanese judiciary for "forgery, money laundering, illicit enrichment and tax evasion." Salameh's brother, Raja, and his former assistant, Marianne Hoayek, are also implicated in the investigation.

During Salameh's questioning on Wednesday, Judge Iskandar also requested that her colleague ask the Court of Cassation to send France a request for judicial assistance in the case.

Iskandar hopes that France will send Beirut the documents and investigative elements at its disposal in the legal proceedings against Salameh in Paris, also for money laundering and embezzlement.

In its view, this request for mutual assistance would enable the Lebanese state to preserve its rights after the arrest warrant and the seizure of Salameh's assets decided by the French judiciary.