Lebanese public sector workers reject amnesty for banking crimes

The National Meeting of Public Sector Workers has issued a statement rejecting any amnesty for financial and banking crimes in Lebanon. The group expressed concern that ambiguity in the proposed general amnesty law could allow for interpretations that protect those responsible for the loss of depositors' funds.

The statement emphasized that the issue affects hundreds of thousands of citizens, including military and civilian retirees and public sector employees, whose life savings and end-of-service indemnities have been eroded by the country's financial collapse. The group argued that legislation must not create loopholes that allow individuals or entities to escape accountability for crimes against depositors or violations of the Code of Money and Credit.

The National Meeting called on Lebanese authorities to urgently clarify the amnesty law by adding explicit language that excludes banking crimes and offenses against depositors from its provisions. They stressed that the burden of the economic collapse should not fall solely on employees and retirees while those suspected of financial crimes remain unprosecuted.