Head of Lebanon's disaster relief agency indicted

BEIRUT (AP) Lebanese authorities have charged the head of the country's disaster relief agency with embezzlement, smuggling and money laundering.

Lebanon's NNA state news agency says public prosecutors formally charged Ibrahim Bashir, his wife and two others on Wednesday. Bashir is the secretary general of Lebanon's Higher Relief Council, which helps Lebanese citizens and communities hit by natural and man-made disasters.

It did not say how much they allegedly embezzled, but local media reports have put the figure at around $10 million.

NNA says the defendants face up to 15 years in prison, if convicted.