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Stephanie Saliba: To Be Or Not To Be Investigated
Mount Lebanon judge Ghada Aoun ordered Riad Salameh’s…erm….uh….acquaintance! Actress Stephanie Saliba to come in for questioning last week. This is part of a larger investigation Aoun has been carrying out into the Central Bank governor. Previously, his brother Raja Salameh was brought in for questioning and subsequently arrested until posting a $3.7 million bail.
So far, Ms. Saliba seems to be having an easier course of affairs. According to L’Orient Today, the actress returned to Lebanon yesterday evening, entering through Beirut’s airport. There, she was held for a while by General Security, before being released by the order of financial prosecutor Ali Ibrahim. Aoun confirmed this sequence of events to L’Orient Today.
Saliba’s search warrant is in relation to money laundering and embezzlement. It is part of a now international investigation into the accumulated wealth of Salameh and his associates. According to Aoun, they are attempting to find out the origin of the money used by Salameh to buy Saliba gifts and properties.
A separate news report, published by Al-Akhbar, had alleged that Prime Minister Najib Mikati had intervened in Saliba’s case. The PM’s office was quick to denounce this, describing the accusation as “totally baseless”. Guess he must be a fan of her acting.
It is unclear if Saliba will now be brought in for questioning or remain free. The actress, who was returning from the Red Sea film festival, has not commented thus far.
So far, Ms. Saliba seems to be having an easier course of affairs. According to L’Orient Today, the actress returned to Lebanon yesterday evening, entering through Beirut’s airport. There, she was held for a while by General Security, before being released by the order of financial prosecutor Ali Ibrahim. Aoun confirmed this sequence of events to L’Orient Today.
Saliba’s search warrant is in relation to money laundering and embezzlement. It is part of a now international investigation into the accumulated wealth of Salameh and his associates. According to Aoun, they are attempting to find out the origin of the money used by Salameh to buy Saliba gifts and properties.
A separate news report, published by Al-Akhbar, had alleged that Prime Minister Najib Mikati had intervened in Saliba’s case. The PM’s office was quick to denounce this, describing the accusation as “totally baseless”. Guess he must be a fan of her acting.
It is unclear if Saliba will now be brought in for questioning or remain free. The actress, who was returning from the Red Sea film festival, has not commented thus far.