BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi Monday accused Hezbollah of involvement in money laundering and international corruption, saying that some of their members are being kept under close surveillance.
While not directly addressing the United Arab Emirates' weekend deportation of 70 mostly-Shiite Lebanese citizens, Rifi's remarks appeared to imply that the expulsions targeted Hezbollah-linked individuals.
In an interview with Saudi daily Al-Watan, Rifi said a number of suspected money launderers linked to Hezbollah had been arrested inside Lebanon, and that the Lebanese authorities were closely coordinating with Saudi Arabia to keep Hezbollah’s suspected operatives away from the oil-rich kingdom.
“A number of Hezbollah members are involved in big corruption and money laundering cases around the world,” Rifi said.
“Many facts had been registered revealing the party’s outlawed (activities) and evasion of customs fees and taxes at ports and the airport,” Rifi added.
The Future Movement minister also said that close collaboration existed with Saudi security agencies during his tenure as the head of Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces, and that cooperation has now shifted to the judicial authorities.
He said Lebanon is speeding up as much as possible the trial of several imprisoned Saudi citizens indicted of involvement in terrorism cases.
“Our hands are extended to our Saudi brethren, the same way they had opened up their arms to us.
“We sometimes receive requests to transfer or deport prisoners who have been sentenced, which we answer positively,” Rifi said.
Saudi Arabia and partners in the Gulf Cooperation Council, including Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Kuwait, have deported scores of Lebanese, mostly Shiite, suspected of having links or financial transactions with Hezbollah.
GCC countries are staunchly opposed to Hezbollah’s militarily involvement in Syria on the side of the Syrian regime.
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