Former assistant of Riad Salameh, the governor of Lebanon’s central bank, Marianne Hoayek, has been charged with money laundering in France as part of a graft investigation.
Hoayek, 43, was questioned in Paris and placed under investigation for criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
The charges are linked to a probe into Salameh’s wealth, as he is accused of amassing a fortune during his three decades in the position.
Salameh, who denies any wrongdoing, is facing increasing scrutiny for his alleged role in Lebanon’s financial crisis.
Judicial authorities in France and Munich in Germany had issued arrest warrants for Salameh over accusations including money laundering and fraud, and Interpol subsequently issued Red Notices targeting him.
An Interpol Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant but asks authorities worldwide to provisionally detain people pending possible extradition or other legal action.