BDL head Riad Salameh and his former assistant Marianne Hoayek. (Credit: archives Le Commerce du Levant)
BEIRUT —Marianne Hoayek, a former assistant to former Banque du Liban (BDL) governor Riad Salameh, filed a direct lawsuit against OTV television station after the station allegedly published an "extremely confidential" decision issued by the BDL Special Investigation Commission (SIC), Hoayek's lawyer told L’Orient Today.
OTV is accused by Hoayek's lawyer of being the first media outlet to have leaked the SIC decision to freeze the bank accounts of Salameh and his entourage, including his brother Raja; his son, Nady; his former romantic partner, Anna Kosakova; and Hoayek.
The charges pressed against OTV include defamation, fabrication of crimes, and violation of laws.
"The publication of the statement contradicts the provisions of Article 11 of Law 318/2001," explained Hoayek's lawyer, Ashraf Moussawi.
This article states that, except for the judge's decision to lift banking secrecy, all decisions of the commission are to be kept strictly confidential.
Hoayek is accused of participating in the purchasing of European real estate and banking assets for the benefit of Salameh and his entourage, through a complex financial arrangement and misappropriation of Lebanese public funds.
Another lawyer for Hoayek, Mario Stasi, recently told AFP "Marianne Hoayek contests these accusations and will provide proof that these funds came mainly from donations from her father."
Hoayek was questioned by an investigative judge in Paris in July, and she contests all allegations.
Jad Abou Jawde, head of news at OTV, told L'Orient Today that the channel is waiting to "officially receive the lawsuit." He also said that if the lawsuit is regarding banking secrecy documents, "there are multiple news outlets who published it, not just OTV ... But we don't do anything that is against the law."
Moussawi also told L’Orient Today that he filed a lawsuit against “prominent Free Patriotic Movement lawyer Wadih Akel," who he alleges played a role in incitement and falsification of files.
Contacted by L'Orient Today, Akel said he had no idea about the lawsuit, "but if it is true, it is an honor to be sued by someone who is part of the Salameh gang."
Moussawi added that: “I also filed a series of lawsuits against some media professionals who deliberately fabricate, distort facts and defame [Mariane Hoayek].”
Salameh, who headed BDL from 1993 to 2023, is being investigated in several European countries.
Reporting contributed by Claude Assaf.