Central Bank Chief Accused of $300,000,000 Embezzlement, Money Laundering and Tax Evasion Scheme Has Luxury Property Seized: Report

A judge in Lebanon has reportedly seized several luxurious properties from a central banker accused of embezzlement, money laundering and tax evasion.

The courts will control central bank governor Riad Salameh’s properties while he faces judicial probes on the source of his wealth, reports the AFP.

The news agency cites an anonymous official in the judicial system who says the move will prevent the 72 year-old from selling or transferring his possessions to others.

“Judge Gabi Shaheen ordered the precautionary seizure of the property of the Governor of the Central Bank, Riad Salameh. The seizure included luxury real estate and apartments owned by the governor in Beirut, Mount Lebanon and Batroun, in addition to a number of cars.”

Authorities in Lebanon opened the probe after France, Germany and Switzerland accused Salameh of stealing $300 million from the central bank over the course of 13 years.

Salameh, who denies the allegations, is currently a wanted man in both France and Germany and Interpol has issued an order for his arrest.

The central bank leader has been banned from leaving Lebanon and is unlikely to face those accusations in those countries as Lebanon does not extradite its own citizens.

Salameh has led Lebanon’s central bank for nearly three decades and says he will step down when his term ends on July 31st.