The Free Patriotic Movement issued a statement in which it stated: “The Free Patriotic Movement supports every legal and judicial procedure to prosecute those accused of embezzling the funds of the Banque du Liban. It considers that what was announced by the Governor of the Banque du Liban, Karim Saaid, confirms the existence of embezzlement in the Banque du Liban and constitutes an acknowledgment from the highest financial authority of the correctness of President General Michel Aoun’s decision to conduct a forensic audit of the Central Bank’s accounts, and the “Movement” calls on the ruler again to complete it, and it still does not understand what justifies the failure to provide the documents and information required by the auditing firm “Alvarez and Marsal” to complete the audit, and recalls the “Movement’s” repeated demands and its question directed to the government and the governor in this regard.”
The statement continued: “The “Movement” also affirms the correctness of the proposals made by the “Strong Lebanon” bloc of draft laws and the prosecutions it has taken to uncover financial crimes, hold their perpetrators accountable, and return deposits to their owners. It considers that working with international investigators and offices is a step in the right direction to recover depositors’ funds that were smuggled abroad after they were seized by conspirators from companies, officials and individuals.”
The statement concluded by saying: “Performance based on judicial prosecution and accountability will enhance the confidence of citizens and the international community in Lebanese institutions and support opportunities for financial reform and economic recovery.”
