Lebanon indicts ex-central bank governor Salameh, banker Hanna over embezzlement
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Lebanon has indicted former central bank governor Riad Salameh and ex-Bank Audi chief Samir Hanna for embezzling tens of millions of dollars from the Banque du Liban, judicial sources said on Monday. The charges mark the first time a commercial banker has been indicted in the widening probe into Salameh's alleged financial crimes. The indictment comes as Salameh remains under medical supervision after missing a court hearing last month.
The Indictment
Lebanese judicial authorities accused Salameh and Hanna of embezzling tens of millions of dollars from the central bank, according to Reuters and AFP. The case file alleges that Hanna bribed Salameh while he served as governor. Hanna, 88, paid $1 million bail and is not in custody as financial investigations continue. Salameh, 76, headed the central bank from 1993 to July 2023 and was placed in custody last month after missing a hearing. He is currently under medical supervision at a government hospital outside Beirut.
Expanding Probe
The indictment of Hanna is the first to target a commercial banker in connection with Salameh’s alleged crimes, signaling the investigation’s expansion into the private sector. In January, current central bank governor Karim Souaid disclosed that the bank had filed a criminal complaint against an unnamed former official, a former banker, and a lawyer over illicit enrichment through four offshore shell companies in the Cayman Islands. Salameh was previously detained for about 13 months and released in September after posting a record $14 million bail. He also faces probes in France, Switzerland, and Germany.
What's Next
Lebanese judicial investigations are ongoing, with prosecutors expected to further examine financial records and possible additional suspects. It remains unclear whether Hanna’s cooperation will lead to new charges against other private sector figures or if Salameh’s foreign legal battles will result in extradition requests.
1 source
Lebanon indicts ex-central bank governor Salameh, banker Hanna over embezzlement
