BEIRUT, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's authorities announced on Monday the freezing of bank accounts belonging to former Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh, his family members and associates in banks and financial institutions across the country.
The Special Investigation Commission at the central bank, also known as the Banque Du Liban, decided to revoke the banking secrecy of their bank accounts.
The decision came in a statement issued by the central bank's acting Governor Wasim Mansouri, who heads the Special Investigation Commission at the central bank.
The commission decided "unanimously, to freeze all accounts belonging, directly or indirectly, to each of Riad Salameh, his son Nadi, his brother Raja, his assistant Mariane Howayek, and his confidant Anna Kozakova, permanently with all banks and financial institutions operating in Lebanon."
Salameh concluded his tenure as governor of the Banque Du Libanon on July 31, a post he held for 30 years.
Riad Salameh, alongside his brother Raja, is currently under investigation both in Lebanon and abroad for allegedly embezzling more than 330 million U.S. dollars from the Banque Du Liban.
Salameh has consistently denied these allegations, reiterating that his wealth is a result of his prior occupation as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch, in addition to inherited properties and investments.
Lebanon has been facing a steep financial crisis amid the collapse of the local currency by over 90 percent. ■
