Lebanon's former central bank governor Riad Salameh. (Credit: AFP)
BEIRUT — The Media Office of Riad Salameh, former governor of the Central Bank, released a statement on Friday addressing the "public's interest in his recent detention." The statement emphasized the "importance of confidentiality in criminal investigations," warning that "any disclosure of investigation details is punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine."
This statement from Salameh's office has been published as several media reported in the past few days some details about his interrogations and his detention.
The statement also highlighted several key points regarding the ongoing legal proceedings.
On Tuesday, Salameh was arrested in Beirut after being questioned "for three hours by the attorney general regarding suspicions of embezzlement of BDL funds exceeding $40 million," a judicial source who requested anonymity told AFP.
His office emphasized the importance of confidentiality in criminal investigations as stipulated by Article 53 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. This article mandates that any disclosure of investigation details is punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine. Salameh's defense team has expressed a commitment to adhering to this confidentiality requirement and urges all parties involved to respect it to ensure the investigation remains objective."
According to the statement, Salameh has "cooperated fully in over 20 criminal proceedings in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, both during and after his tenure as governor, provided that these proceedings complied with legal procedures and were conducted impartially. This cooperation is expected to continue despite his current detention."
The statement also highlighted two "fundamental rights recognized by the Code of Criminal Procedure."
The first being "the right to remain silent without it being used as evidence against the accused, as outlined in Article 77, and the presumption of innocence until a final conviction is rendered, as stated in Paragraph 2 of Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966."