Beirut Public Prosecutor, Judge Raja Hamoush, has charged Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh, his brother Raja, and his assistant Marianne Howayek, with crimes of public funds embezzlement, forgery, illicit enrichment, money laundering, and violation of tax law.

Judge Hamoush referred the file and the defendants to the Beirut First Investigative Judge Charbel Bou Samra, demanding that they be interrogated and that the necessary judicial warrants be issued against them.

Meanwhile, Salameh rejected all the charges, affirming that the person is innocent until proven guilty.

Mount Lebanon Prosecutor Judge Ghada Aoun also dismissed the orders of Caretaker PM Najib Mikati who called on Interior Minister Bassam al-Mawlawi to take legal measures against her and accused the judge of refusing to receive recusal notices and usurping power.

The Higher Judiciary Council, for its part, called on Mikati to undo the decision pertaining judge Aoun, reiterating the principle of the separation of powers.

Source: Al-Manar English Website