Lebanon indicts ex-central bank governor Salameh over new alleged financial crimes
A Lebanese judge on Monday indicted former central bank governor Riad Salameh and a former commercial banker, accusing them of financial crimes including embezzlement and illicit enrichment, a senior ...
Lebanon has indicted former Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh and former commercial banker Samir Hanna on charges of embezzlement and illicit enrichment, according to a senior Lebanese judicial source. This marks the first time a commercial banker has been indicted in a financial crimes case related to Salameh, indicating the expansion of Lebanese investigations into the private sector.
Salameh, who headed the Lebanese Central Bank for three decades, has previously been indicted and arrested for other alleged financial crimes during his tenure but has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The indictment includes accusations that Hanna bribed Salameh during his time as central bank governor. Salameh is currently in custody but under medical supervision, while Hanna has paid a $1mn bail and is not in custody.
The indictment covers the suspected embezzlement of $154mn in 2010 and $102mn in 2012, according to Accountability Now, a Swiss foundation that has been investigating Salameh.
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