AMMAN - HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, founder and chairman of Talal
Abu-Ghazaleh Global (TAG.Global), participated in the investigative documentary
report entitled ‘The Great Deception’; which is part of the Amam Al Kawalees
(In Front of the Scenes) program published by Asharq News Channel.

The report revealed the secret disappearance of billions of
dollars of depositors money from Lebanon’s Central Bank. The report is based on
exclusive documents that were uncovered for the first time revealing where the
funds evaporated, and those involved in the violations that lead to an economic
and a financial Lebanese crisis that the country had never experienced before.

In the report, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh stated that Lebanon suffers from a
triple collusion, between the banks and Lebanon’s Central Bank, through the judicial
system, affirming that: “It is difficult to accuse the judiciary, however, such
exceptional cases that the Lebanon judiciary deals with in a strange way take
place in collusion with the banks”.

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh, as one of those affected by the disappearance of
funds, wondered, “How could any central bank in the world put its hands on
funds, cheques in my name, and deposit them without my knowledge?” He further
went on to add: “Lebanon Central Bank has cheques in the value  of $23
million  in the name of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh - which is not a small amount
–where are these funds?”

Although Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh received a fair ruling from a Lebanese
judge who ordered a precautionary seizure on some property assets of the bank,
its CEO, and board members, however, as a result of an appeal  against
this ruling by the bank, it was decided that the judge has no authority to
order the bank to pay, as the bank decides to do so by itself.

In the documentary, which included a number of officials and
bankers from Lebanon and the world, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh affirmed he would continue
to pursue his right to recover his money in full with the full accrued
interests even if the case lasted for 20 years.

It is worth mentioning that the report talked in detail about the
evaporation of depositors' funds in the Lebanese banks and the years-long
financial crisis which led to a collapse of the economy in a country that was
known for so long for its credible banking system. The report also highlighted
the role banks played in this “deception”, not to forget the role of the
political elite and the Governor of Lebanon's Central Bank in this crisis.