A European team questions the head of the Central Bank of Lebanon

BEIRUT (AP) — Under tight security, the governor of Lebanon’s central bank was questioned for the first time Thursday by a visiting European legal team as part of a money laundering investigation.

Several European countries are investigating Governor Riad Salameh, accused in recent years of various corruption-related crimes. Salameh has headed the Central Bank of Lebanon since 1993.

The questioning was originally scheduled for Wednesday, when Salameh failed to show up. According to the Lebanese State National News Agency, Salameh’s legal team filed a complaint that the presence of foreign judges violates the country’s sovereignty. Subsequently, the court rejected the complaint and confirmed that their presence was in accordance with Lebanon’s international obligations.

Army soldiers and police stood guard around the Beirut courthouse after Salameh, 72, arrived with his own team of five lawyers. A dozen protesters gathered and chanted against the central bank governor and the country’s political leaders.

The European delegation, made up of representatives from France, Germany and Luxembourg, questioned Salameh through another Lebanese judge who acted as an intermediary since under Lebanese law they cannot question Salameh directly.

The session lasted about six hours and another session was scheduled for Friday, court officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Salameh did not make any statements to the media after the session.

Judge Helena Iskandar, who is representing the Lebanese state in the questioning and European investigation, has charged Salameh, her brother Raja and MK Marianne Hoayek with corruption, court officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday. .

The European delegation is investigating the laundering of around 330 million dollars.