US, UK, sanction Lebanon’s central bank ex-governor

Reuters :
The United States, Britain and Canada on Thursday announced sanctions against the former governor of Lebanon’s central bank, Riad Salameh, accusing him of corrupt actions to enrich himself and his associates.

Salameh, in messages to Reuters, denied the allegations made by the three sanctioning countries and said he would challenge them.

Some of his assets had already been frozen in previous investigations, he said.

The US Department of Treasury said in a statement that Salameh’s “corrupt and unlawful actions have contributed to the breakdown of the rule of law in Lebanon”.

It had also sanctioned four others close to him, including relatives, close associates and his primary assistant, it said.

“Salameh abused his position of power, likely in violation of Lebanese law, to enrich himself and his associates by funnelling hundreds of millions of dollars through layered shell companies to invest in European real estate,” the US Treasury said.

Britain and Canada also sanctioned Salameh, who served on the central bank from 1993 until July 31, 2023 on Thursday.