In an unprecedented move, the Lebanese Central Bank has frozen three accounts belonging to Lebanese nationals who are suspected of involvement in laundering dirty money, The Daily Star reported Saturday.
Public Prosecutor Adnan Addoum disclosed on Friday that he had received, from Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh a written notification that the assets of the three individuals had been frozen.
The move, according to the paper, highlights the government’s resolve to strike a balance between its campaign against dirty money, and upholding banking secrecy.
Addoum requested that all documents related to the case and used by the special committee, which probes money laundering, be sent to his office, said the Beirut-based daily.
The prosecutor will then order a judicial investigation to determine whether there is enough evidence to indict the suspects and put them on trial. If not, the assets will be freed, the reporter added.
Addoum adamantly refused to give details of the case or hints as to the identities of the suspects, citing strict adherence to the country’s banking secrecy laws.
Despite Western pressures on Lebanon, before and after Sept. 11, the government has clung to banking secrecy, insisting that a new law introduced in April is enough to prevent any dirty money coming into the country or flowing out for clandestine purposes, it added – Albawaba.com
