Several Lebanese banks would refuse to answer the Swiss and French investigators concerning the transfers of funds from the accounts of the governor of the Bank of Lebanon, Riad Salamé, suspected by Bern of embezzlement of funds of the Bank of Lebanon and of money laundering, taking refuge under the pretext of banking secrecy instituted in 1956 and still valid in Lebanon on an individual level, while a forensic audit conducted by the Alvarez & Marsal firm of the BdL accounts is currently in progress.
Among the 6 Lebanese banks which would refuse to answer the investigators, are Bank Audi, Bank Saradar, Bank Al Mawarid, Bank Med and BML, indicates the Lebanese site Mégaphone, while Riad Salamé has refuted any embezzlement.
In addition, banking secrecy can only be lifted in the context of a request submitted by the Lebanese justice to the Special Investigation Commission of the Bank of Lebanon in the context of accounts deemed suspicious in matters of money laundering or financing of terrorism.
This information comes as Judge Ghada Aoun issued a ban on leaving the territory against the governor of the Banque du Liban, indicating that she had evidence of embezzlement and money laundering against him.
In addition, there were reports of a threat of resignation on the part of Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who is also a shareholder of one of the banks mentioned above, in the event of a local indictment of the governor of the Banque du Liban, this the latter enjoying judicial immunity in Lebanon. Najib Mikati, however, denied at a press conference today any interference in ongoing investigations, while urging the judiciary not to protect words but institutions.