Media: alleged embezzled millions from Lebanon ended up in Swiss banks
A large share of the $300-500 million that the governor of the central bank of Lebanon is accused of having embezzled ended up on the accounts of 12 Swiss banks, the SonntagsZeitung newspaper reported on Sunday.
This content was published on
3 minutes
SonntagsZeitung/AFP/RTS/sb
العربية
ar
وسائل إعلام: ملايين مُختلسة من لبنان انتهى بها الأمر في مصارف سويسرية
These revelations come just three days after Lebanese authorities chargedExternal link long-time central bank governor (head of the Banque du Liban (BDL) since 1993) Riad Salameh, his brother Raja and one of his assistants with money laundering, embezzlement and illicit enrichment after months of delay in a high-profile case.
The charges are the product of an 18-month probe by Lebanon into whether Salameh and his brother Raja embezzled millions of dollars from the central bank between 2002 and 2015. Judicial authorities in at least five European countries are investigating the Salameh brothers over the same allegations.
The brothers have denied the charges. The governor has dismissed accusations of illicit enrichment as part of an effort to scapegoat him for Lebanon’s financial collapse, which brought new scrutiny of his three decades as governor.
According to SonntagsZeitungExternal link, $250 million were deposited in Raja Salameh’s personal account at the HSBC branch in Geneva. Other sums were deposited at UBS, Credit Suisse, Julius Baer, EFG and Pictet, the Swiss paper said. It claims the transactions were carried out through an offshore company registered in the British Virgin Islands, named Forry Associates and created in 2001. “Considerable sums” were then purportedly transferred to buy real estate in several European countries.
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland initiated criminal proceedings for serious suspicion of money laundering in October 2020 and the procedure is still ongoing. According to SonntagsZeitung, millions of dollars in funds have already been frozen, but the federal prosecutor’s office does not provide a figure.
The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (Finma) has also been conducting preliminary investigations into 12 Swiss banks “for months”, the paper said. A spokesperson confirmed to the SonntagsZeitung that proceedings have been initiated against two financial institutions in the “Lebanese context”. The names of the banks have not been made public.
In 2021, Lebanon opened an investigation into the assets of Riad Salameh, after a request for assistance from the attorney general in Switzerland in the context of investigations into more than $300 million in fund movements made by the governor and his brother Raja.
Young undocumented migrants gain easier access to vocational training
This content was published on
Rejected asylum-seekers and young undocumented migrants in Switzerland will have easier access to basic vocational training from June 1.
Migration: Swiss government wants to shorten reunification period for families
This content was published on
Family members of people temporarily admitted to Switzerland should in future be able to join them after two years instead of three.
This content was published on
2023 was a record year for the Rhaetian Railway in several respects. Never before has the narrow-gauge railway in Graubünden, eastern Switzerland, transported so many passengers and cars.
Swiss CFOs much more optimistic despite global uncertainty
This content was published on
The main concerns of business leaders in Switzerland are geopolitical uncertainty and the important trading partners Germany and China.
Record organ donation in Switzerland despite high rejection rates
This content was published on
More organ donations were recorded in Switzerland in 2023 than ever before. This was despite a high rejection rate of 58% by surviving relatives.
This content was published on
Seven years after the death of record-breaking Swiss mountain climber Ueli Steck, his estate is going to the Alpine Museum of Switzerland in Bern.
Swiss probing corruption linked to Lebanon central bank
This content was published on
The Swiss attorney general's office has requested legal assistance from Lebanon in the context of a probe into "aggravated money laundering".
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.