BEIRUT — Lebanon’s former central financial institution governor, Riad Salameh, was arrested Tuesday in Beirut following a judicial listening to. He’s going through allegations of unlawful enrichment and cash laundering, each domestically and overseas.
Appearing Cassation Public Prosecutor Jamal al-Hajjar questioned Salameh on the Justice Palace earlier on Tuesday in a home probe into alleged monetary crimes. Native media reported his arrest by mid-afternoon native time on Monday, citing a judicial supply.
A senior judicial supply advised Agence France-Presse that Salameh was interrogated for greater than three hours over his alleged involvement within the embezzlement of greater than $40 million from the Central Financial institution throughout his 30-year tenure.
The native judiciary has been investigating a number of key figures in Lebanon for the reason that financial meltdown in 2019. The previous governor, who had held his place since 1993, is broadly blamed for the disaster and the collapse of the native foreign money, which misplaced greater than 90% of its worth previously 5 years.
He’s the topic of a number of probes at dwelling and overseas for his alleged position within the embezzlement of public funds, cash laundering, forgery, illicit enrichment and tax evasion amongst different monetary crimes.
Not less than six European nations are investigating Salameh for allegedly embezzling tons of of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} by means of Forry Associates, an organization owned and run by his brother Raja Salameh. In March 2022, France, Germany and Luxembourg seized belongings value 120 million euros ($135 million) following an investigation into 5 individuals, together with Salameh, suspected of embezzling some $335 million between 2002 and 2021.
In Could final 12 months, Interpol issued a purple discover in opposition to Salameh pursuant to arrest warrants issued by France and Germany.
In Lebanon, Salameh has not often appeared at judicial hearings. The final questioning he attended was in July 2023, only a few days earlier than his tenure on the helm of the Central Financial institution ended. On the time, the decide questioning him determined to proceed the probe. One other decide ordered Salameh’s belongings in Lebanon frozen.