Reported by The New Arab Staff & Agencies

Lebanon’s justice ministry formally accused former central bank governor Riad Salameh of financial crimes on Thursday, the state news agency and judicial sources said, echoing charges brought against him by state prosecutors when he was arrested this week.

Salameh, 73, was arrested on Tuesday over alleged financial crimes including illicit enrichment through public funds. Reuters has been unable to reach Salameh or a lawyer for him since his arrest. He has previously denied accusations of wrongdoing.

The justice ministry’s move on Thursday aims to preserve the state’s right to reclaim any public funds which have been embezzled, a judicial source told Reuters.

Financial prosecutor Ali Ibrahim on Wednesday charged Salameh with embezzlement, theft of public funds, forgery, and illicit enrichment, according to the National News Agency and judicial sources.

Read full report: https://www.newarab.com/news/lebanon-justice-ministry-accuses-salameh-financial-crimes?amp