(AFP) - The Swiss weekly Sonntagsteinzeitung reported on Sunday that a large part of the $300-500 million that Egypt's central ruler of Lebanon was accused of embezzling was deposited in 12 Swiss banks.

This comes in the wake of new lawsuits filed by Lebanese Judge Raja Hamoush on Thursday against Riad Salameh, who is being targeted by several judicial investigations in the country, on the background of the financial collapse.

A Lebanese judicial source told AFP on Thursday that Riad Salameh, his brother Raja, and his assistant, Marianne Howayek, are being prosecuted for the crimes of "embezzlement of public funds" and "money laundering."

This is the first allegation in Lebanon that affects Salama in the local investigation that is taking place against the background of the European investigations, but it is not the first local allegation against him in other cases related to illegal enrichment and smuggling of funds abroad, and a judge issued a travel ban against him.

Salama has always denied the accusations against him, considering that his prosecution comes in the context of an operation to "tarnish" his image.

Despite the complaints, summons, investigations, and travel ban issued against him in Lebanon, Salameh is still in the position he has held since 1993, making him one of the longest-serving central bank governors in the world. His term is supposed to end in May 2023.

According to the Swiss newspaper, $250 million was deposited in Raja Salameh's personal account at the HSBC branch in Geneva.

Other sums were deposited in UBS, Credit Suisse, Julius Baer, IFG and Pictet, according to the newspaper.

The same source explained that the transfers were made through an offshore company registered in the Virgin Islands under the name "Fore Associates" established in 2001.

Subsequently, "large sums" were transferred to purchase real estate in several European countries.

The Swiss Federal Prosecutor's Office initiated criminal proceedings on suspicion of money laundering in October 2020 and the proceedings are still ongoing.

The weekly newspaper indicated that millions of dollars in funds had been frozen, but the Federal Prosecutor's Office did not give a specific number.

Likewise, the Financial Markets Regulatory Authority (FINMA) has been conducting preliminary investigations "several months ago" with 12 Swiss banks. A spokesperson confirmed to Sonntagstzeitung that legal proceedings had been initiated against two financial institutions in the "Lebanese context". The names of the banks were not announced.

And in the year 2021, Lebanon opened an investigation into the assets of Riad Salameh, after requesting assistance from the Attorney General in Switzerland in the framework of investigations that include a movement of funds of more than $ 300 million carried out by the Governor of the Banque du Liban and his brother.

And Salama (72 years), who has been in office since 1993, is accused by many Lebanese and part of the political class of corruption, and of being one of the main officials responsible for the unprecedented financial and economic crisis that Lebanon is witnessing.