NNA - First Investigating Judge in Beirut, Bilal Halawi, questioned Karim SalaM, brother of former Economy Minister Amin SalaM, on charges of embezzlement, extortion of insurance companies, and illicit enrichment, based on a lawsuit filed by the Financial Public Prosecution. Salam appeared with his attorney, lawyer Tony Frangieh.

At the end of the session, Judge Halawi issued an arrest warrant against him.

The judge has scheduled a follow-up hearing for next Thursday to hear testimonies from three witnesses: George Matossian, owner of Mashrek Insurance, Fadi Tamim, and Elias Abboud, head of Lebanon’s Association of Certified Public Accountants.

===========R.H.