Arrested last Tuesday in Beirut, the former governor of the Bank of Lebanon, Riad Salamé, was kept in detention following his interrogation, a judicial source told AFP. He is suspected in particular of massive embezzlement of public funds.
Former Banque du Liban (BDL) governor Riad Salamé, accused of massive embezzlement of public funds, was kept in detention on Monday following his interrogation by a judge in Beirut.
Riad Salamé, 74, who had close ties to the political class, is the first major public figure arrested since Lebanon’s economic collapse began nearly five years ago.
He was central bank governor from 1993 until July 2023 and is accused by his critics of being one of the main culprits of the country’s financial collapse.
The former Franco-Lebanese investment banker was arrested on September 3 in Beirut and then placed in pre-trial detention.
The chief investigating judge of Beirut, Bilal Halawé, “issued an arrest warrant against him”, a procedural formality, after hearing him for two and a half hours on Monday morning, in the presence of his lawyer, a judicial source told AFP.
The questioning is due to resume on Thursday, according to the source, who wished to remain anonymous.
“My money has flown away”
With AFP
- FRANCE 24
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