Anti-Corruption Groups in France File Complaint Against Lebanon's Interim Prime Minister

On Thursday, April 5, Reuters reported that it had seen a document indicating that anti-corruption groups in France have filed a complaint against Najib Mikati, the billionaire Prime Minister of Lebanon, and his associates, calling for an investigation into the family's financial crimes, including money laundering. In response, Mr. Mikati issued a statement saying that he had not been officially notified of this complaint and that his family's wealth was acquired transparently and legally. According to Reuters, the statement released by the office of Lebanon's interim Prime Minister described these accusations as part of a 'media campaign' aimed at 'insulting' Najib Mikati and his family members. The complaint was submitted on Tuesday, April 3, by two anti-corruption groups, 'Sherpa' and 'The Association of Victims of Fraudulent and Criminal Acts in Lebanon,' to the French National Financial Prosecutor's Office. The complaint includes a list of companies and real estate owned by Najib Mikati and his relatives, registered in France or other countries, stating that further investigations should be conducted on the family's assets to determine whether they were obtained through money laundering and receiving stolen goods. William Bourdon, a lawyer for the Sherpa group, told Reuters on Thursday, 'This is a consequence of billionaire politicians. They see their position as a refuge from legal prosecution.' Mr. Bourdon expressed expectations for the investigations to commence. Part of the investigation involves finding connections between Mikati and Riad Salameh, the former governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, who held the position for 30 years until 2022. France and Germany have issued arrest warrants as part of their investigations into Salameh and his brother Raja for allegedly taking hundreds of millions of dollars from the Central Bank of Lebanon and laundering money abroad. The Salameh brothers have denied any wrongdoing. In a press release from Sherpa on Thursday, it was stated that 'this complaint draws the attention of authorities, especially to the financial transactions between the former Prime Minister, his relatives, and the Central Bank of Lebanon.' In a statement from Najib Mikati's office, he acknowledged that what his family has earned from their business activities over the years is fully transparent and adheres to applicable laws and the highest ethical standards. Mikati: There is no reason for 'concern or panic' about the situation in Lebanon.