ALBAWABA - Following a series of international arrest warrants, Lebanese authorities announced the detention of former Bank of Lebanon governor Riad Salameh.
Salameh has been charged with several financial offenses, including money laundering, embezzlement, and unlawful enrichment, where he denies any misconduct. Salameh was Lebanon's central bank governor for 30 years, until July 2023. In his final months as governor, Germany filed an arrest order for him on corruption allegations.
In May 2023, Interpol issued a red notice against Riad Salameh, the 72-year-old Bank of Lebanon Governor, after France issued its arrest warrant against Salameh.
Bassam Mawlawi, then the country's acting Minister of Interior and Municipalities, told Reuters that Salameh would be complying with red notice in case the judiciary instructed him to do so.
Five foreign investigations were being carried out against Salameh at the time, regarding corruption charges. The French warrant came as part of France's investigation into Salameh's millions of dollars worth of embezzlement of allegations.
Considered one of Lebanon's political elite, Salameh has been, for years, slammed with allegations of money laundering and illicit enrichment with authorities, with almost 30 serving as the Bank of Lebanon governor.
Salameh's net worth has always been in question, as he has been accused of using ill-gotten ways to accumulate it. However, he has repeatedly denied any misconduct regarding the matter. He said on multiple occasions that his money comes from formerly being an investment banker at Merrill Lynch, inherited properties, and personal investments.
