Lebanon Files New Lawsuit Against Ex-Central Bank Chief Salameh

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Lebanon on Monday filed legal proceedings against former central bank governor Riad Salameh over allegations including embezzlement, illegal enrichment and money laundering, following a criminal complaint filed by his successor, a judicial official told AFP.

The case also targets former Bank Audi CEO Samir Hanna, with the allegations involving the alleged creation of shell companies, misappropriation of central bank funds and the fraudulent purchase of shares and bonds from commercial banks, according to the official.

The judge handling the case requested arrest warrants for Salameh, 76, and referred the matter to the prosecutor’s office for consultation after Hanna is questioned, the official said.

Hanna, who recently posted $1 million bail, had served at Bank Audi for more than six decades before resigning following the allegations.

The case has now been referred to another judge for further investigation and the completion of legal procedures.

Salameh held under tight security

Salameh was taken into custody late last month after failing to attend a hearing related to the case. He is currently being held under tight security at a government hospital outside Beirut.

The latest proceedings follow a criminal complaint filed in January by newly appointed central bank governor Karim Soueid against Salameh and Hanna.

At the time, Soueid did not publicly identify the individuals involved but cited allegations including misappropriation of funds, illicit enrichment and suspected money laundering.

The central bank subsequently told AFP that it considered itself the victim of the alleged embezzlement of “several hundred million euros” committed by its former governor with the assistance of individuals in his circle.

Bank Audi later announced Hanna’s resignation.

Long-running investigations

Salameh headed Lebanon’s central bank from 1993 until July 2023 and has faced multiple investigations in Lebanon and abroad over allegations of financial misconduct.

He was arrested in September 2024 and charged with offenses including the alleged embezzlement of $44 million from the central bank. He was released about a year later after posting more than $14 million in bail, reportedly the largest bail amount in Lebanon’s history.

French authorities have also issued an international arrest warrant for Salameh since May 2023. He holds French citizenship and has faced investigations in several European countries over alleged financial crimes.

Salameh has consistently denied wrongdoing, rejecting the allegations and maintaining that he has been made a “scapegoat” for Lebanon’s devastating economic collapse, which began in 2019.

The new case comes as Lebanon continues efforts to address the financial and institutional fallout from the crisis, which has severely weakened the country’s banking sector and eroded public confidence in its financial institutions.