Riad Salameh, Lebanon’s former central bank governor, was arrested in Beirut on Tuesday. He faces charges of financial crimes related to a brokerage firm.
Salameh, 73, served as the bank governor for 30 years. His tenure ended under a cloud of accusations, both in Lebanon and abroad, involving financial misconduct.
Judicial sources allege Salameh accrued over 110 Mln dollars through financial crimes with Lebanese firm Optimum Invest. These crimes allegedly occurred between 2015-2018.
Charges include embezzlement, money laundering, and fraud. Salameh’s lawyer did not comment, but Salameh has denied all previous accusations.
Salameh will be held for four days in a precautionary arrest before the case goes to the Beirut public prosecutor. Optimum’s CEO, Reine Abboud, claims no wrongdoing in their dealings.
This arrest is separate from previous charges linked to Forry Associates, a company controlled by Salameh’s brother. Despite facing charges and international arrest warrants, Salameh had never been apprehended before.
Critics question whether Lebanon’s judiciary will hold Salameh accountable, given the political connections he maintained during his tenure. However, the caretaker government stated it would not intervene in the case.
Salameh, once a respected figure, now faces sanctions from the U.S., Britain, and Canada, further reflecting Lebanon’s financial system collapse.
His arrest might be seen as an attempt to address international concerns about Lebanon’s failure to tackle financial crimes.