Lebanon's judicial system has indicted former central bank Governor Riad Salameh and former commercial banker Samir Hanna over accusations of financial crimes, including embezzlement and illicit enrichment, citing tens of millions of dollars in funds allegedly embezzled from the Banque du Liban.
This development marks a significant expansion of the investigation into Salameh's activities, as it is the first time a commercial banker has been implicated in a financial crimes case related to the former governor. According to judicial sources, the indictment also includes accusations that Hanna bribed Salameh during his tenure as central bank governor.
Salameh, who headed the central bank for three decades, has previously been indicted and arrested in Lebanon over other alleged financial crimes, which he has denied, claiming he is being made a scapegoat for the country's economic crisis.
The 76-year-old former governor is currently under medical supervision at a government hospital outside Beirut, after being placed in custody last month for missing a hearing. In contrast, Hanna, 88, has paid a $1m bail and is not in custody, as financial investigations continue.
The case against Salameh and Hanna is part of a broader investigation into alleged financial crimes committed during Salameh's tenure. In January, Lebanon's current central bank governor, Karim Souaid, announced that the central bank had filed a criminal complaint against an unnamed former official, a former banker, and a lawyer over alleged illicit enrichment through misuse of public funds. The complaint alleged that the operations were carried out through four offshore shell companies in the Cayman Islands.
Salameh's legal troubles are not limited to Lebanon, as he also faces investigations abroad, including in France, Switzerland, and Germany. In September, he was released from detention after paying a record bail of more than $14m, following approximately 13 months in custody over alleged financial crimes committed during his tenure.
The ongoing investigations and indictments against Salameh and other former officials reflect the Lebanese government's efforts to address the country's economic crisis and hold those responsible for alleged financial misconduct accountable.
