According to a report by economic journalist Mounir Younes, the newspaper L’Orient-Le Jour revealed that judicial authorities in Paris have opened a new investigation into financial transfers that left Lebanon during the economic crisis, following complaints by anti-corruption groups. The probe targets activities linked to Banque Audi and entities within the Richelieu Group, associated with Société Générale de Banque au Liban and banker Antoine Sehnaoui.
The case stems from complaints filed last July by the “Collective of Victims of Fraudulent and Criminal Practices in Lebanon” and the French NGO Sherpa. In March, a supplementary memo helped establish French jurisdiction, leading to the case being referred to the OCLCIFF.
The complaints argue that some transfers to France may qualify as money laundering or asset concealment. They involve Banque Audi and its French branch, as well as Richelieu entities including Compagnie Financière Richelieu, Richelieu France, and Richelieu Gestion.
They also cite eight accounts at Richelieu Monaco linked to companies associated with former central bank governor Riad Salameh, raising questions over due diligence for politically exposed persons. Swiss regulators had already sanctioned Banque Audi’s Swiss branch in March 2024 for serious anti-money laundering violations.
The case relies on a key French legal principle: money laundering can be prosecuted in France regardless of where the original offense occurred.
