Judge Aoun Questions Chairmen of Bank of Beirut, Bank Audi

Mount Lebanon Prosecutor Judge Ghada Aoun on Monday interrogated Bank of Beirut chairman Salim Sfeir and Bank Audi chairman Samir Hanna over a complaint filed by an activist group.

Media reports said Aoun would also interrogate Khalil al-Bitar, who is a member of the board of directors of Bank Audi.

More bank directors and officials will also be questioned on Tuesday and Thursday.

The activist group, the People Want to Reform the Regime, had filed a complaint against the chairmen of all Lebanese banks in connection with a lawsuit alleging that the central bank had transferred $8 billion to seven banks to pay to depositors abroad, and that the banks paid only $1 billion and kept the remaining $7 billion in their coffers.

Although the banks concerned are seven, reports say that the investigation will target the chairmen of the country’s 14 main banks.

Al-Akhbar newspaper reported that Judge Aoun might issue travel banks against the chairmen and might also freeze their assets and properties.

The lawsuit also targets Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh and six central bank officials.