Lebanese central bank chief denies financial misconduct in court hearing

Beirut [Lebanon], March 18: Lebanese central bank governor RiadSalameh on Friday maintained his innocence by rejecting accusations of transferring public funds exceeding 300 million U.S. dollars to Swiss accounts via a company owned by his brother, the National News Agency reported.
A statement released by Salameh on Friday following a court hearing noted that he had submitted documents to the judiciary in Lebanon and abroad with a detailed explanation.
He said that the documents prove that no money from the central bank had entered the account of Forry Associates, his brother's company.
The 72-year-old, who has been running the bank for three decades, is one of the top Lebanese figures accused of causing the country's unprecedented financial crisis.
The governor, who is being investigated in Lebanon and several European countries, has denied the multiple charges against him involving money laundering, illicit enrichment, and others.
Salameh attended court hearings on Thursday and Friday, during which he was questioned by a Lebanese judge in the presence of European investigators.
Source: Xinhua