Lebanese Judge Ghada Aoun (C), walks as she leaves the Lebanese Central Bank after members of the state security patrol raid the Banque du Liban in search of Riad Salameh central bank Governor, in Beirut, Lebanon, 19 July 2022. Lebanon opened a probe into Salameh's wealth last year after the office of Switzerland's top prosecutor requested assistance in an investigation into more than 300 million USD which he allegedly embezzled out of the central bank with the help of his brother. EPA-EFE/WAEL HAMZEH 
A number of domestic and foreign probes have been launched against Lebanon's financial officials following decades of profligate spending and mismanagement.
Judge Ghada Aoun, who has investigated corruption by top Lebanese officials and the practices of the financial sector, told Reuters the disciplinary council accused her of bias.
"They are punishing me for doing my job," Aoun told reporters on Thursday after she left a hearing of the council, during which she was informed of its decision to dismiss her.
Aoun said the bias accusations were based on comments she had made about corrupt officials. She said she had appealed the decision and could legally keep practicing until the appeal was decided.
A senior judicial source told Reuters that the council had voted unanimously to dismiss her after numerous complaints were filed against her over her investigations.
Earlier this year, Lebanon's prime minister and interior minister moved to restrict her probe into commercial banks, saying she was "overstepping authority" after she charged two banks with money laundering.
Aoun also charged central bank governor Riad Salameh last year with illicit enrichment, in a case related to wider corruption investigations in Lebanon and at least five European countries. Salameh, who dies the accusations, was later charged by another Lebanese judge with illicit enrichment.
Nizar Saghieh of the civil rights body Legal Agenda said Thursday's decision was a "heartbreaking message to a judge that tried to take on major criminals".
(Reporting by Laila Bassam and Maya Gebeily; Editing by Toby Chopra)