Judge Aoun Says Salameh’s Lawsuits Going Round in Circles

Mount Lebanon's prosecutor Judge Ghada Aoun said Thursday in a statement that Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh is not only prosecuted abroad, but also in Lebanon.

According to Aoun, there are two lawsuits against Salameh.

The governor’s first offense is “interfering in currency speculation along with a bank,” Aoun said.

The second is allowing the transfer abroad of $5 billion in cash.

The judge said that the source of 4 out of the 5 billion is unknown.

“Without Salameh’s intervention, these crimes would not have happened,” Aoun claimed.

She added that “if the Court of Cassation decides to grant him an edict, that would be another issue.”

Aoun pointed out that “there are evidences and numbers from Switzerland that can’t be disregarded” in a lawsuit pending before the Public Prosecution.

She questioned why this lawsuit is going round in circles, “although allegation is based on suspicion.”

“Is there no suspicion despite all these facts?” the judge asked. “Let someone read the Swiss request for judicial assistance!"