FORMER CHIEF OF LEBANON CENTRAL BANK ARRESTED!
September 4, 2024Lebanon’s former central bank governor, Riad Salameh, has been arrested after a hearing at the country’s judicial palace, according to Lebanese state media.
The state-run National News Agency (NNA) said Judge Jamal al-Hajjar, who holds the position of public prosecutor, detained 73-year-old Salameh after interrogating him on Tuesday.
It is the first time Salameh has appeared before Lebanon’s judiciary since he left his post at the end of July last year without a successor.
Salameh was the governor of the central bank, the Banque du Liban, for 30 years. But his final months were marred by allegations of financial crimes including illicit enrichment through public funds by authorities in Lebanon and several other countries.
He is wanted by authorities in France for alleged financial crimes, with Interpol issuing “red notices” targeting him. Lebanon does not extradite its citizens.
He was accused by many in Lebanon of being responsible for the country’s financial crisis since late 2019.
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English Script:
Yuka Royer: Riad Salameh, he headed Lebanon’s central bank for three decades and was once lorded for reviving the country’s economy. But his later years were marred by allegations of financial crimes, both at home and abroad. On Tuesday, he was arrested after a lengthy interrogation, the first time he faced Lebanon’s judiciary since he left his position last year without a successor. Vedika Bahl has the details.
Vedika Bahl: It’s here at the Justice Palace in Beirut that Riad Salameh, former Governor of Lebanon’s Central Bank, was arrested over several alleged corruption cases, according to reports. The country’s Caretaker Justice Minister has said he respects the judiciary’s decision to arrest the former Governor.
Henry Khoury: There is no doubt that the public prosecutor did what was required of him and interrogated former Governor Riad Salameh. If there was no need for detention, Salameh wouldn’t have been detained, but his decision was to detain him, and I respect every decision issued by the judiciary.
Vedika Bahl: The arrest comes after years of accusations before leaving 30 years in his post July last year, 73-year-old Salameh’s final years were marred by allegations of financial crimes, including illicit enrichment through public funds, both at home and abroad. He’s wanted by authorities in France with a red notice issued against him by Interpol. Salameh was widely celebrated for his role in Lebanon’s economic recovery after a 15-year civil war. But he’s also considered by many to be behind policies that led to the country’s financial crisis since late 2019, which decimated the value of the Lebanese pound and sparked triple-digit inflation.
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