Judge Aoun lifts travel bans against BLOM, Audi chairmen

Mount Lebanon Prosecutor Judge Ghada Aoun decided on Tuesday to lift travel bans against BLOM Bank chairman Saad al-Azhari and Bank Audi chairman Samir Hanna.

The decision came after the lawyer of the two banks, Sakher al-Hashem submitted a request to lift the travel bans to Judge Aoun.

Aoun had imposed travel bans on the directors of Lebanon’s largest five banks, Bank of Beirut, Bank Audi, SGBL, BLOM Bank and BankMed.

Days after, she froze the assets of the five banks and those of their board of directors as she investigates possible transfers of billions of dollars aboard during the country’s economic meltdown.

The state-run National News Agency said the decision by Aoun with Mount Lebanon district court covers real estate, vehicles and shares that the five banks or their directors own in other companies.