Riad Salameh Arrested After Missing Court Questioning Session
Former Lebanon central bank chief faces financial wrongdoing charges
Riad Salameh, the former governor of Lebanon’s central bank, has been arrested. Security forces arrested him at Bhannes Hospital, north of Beirut, on Friday. This happened after he did not attend a scheduled court questioning session on Thursday.
Why Was Riad Salameh Arrested?
The former central bank chief faces charges of financial wrongdoing. The investigation involves transactions at the central bank, Banque du Liban, and securities purchases linked to companies connected with Bank Audi.
Mr. Salameh was scheduled to meet Judge Samaranda Nassar on Thursday. The questioning was based on a complaint filed by Karim Souaid, the current governor of Lebanon's central bank.
The Search and Arrest
Before the hearing on Thursday, Mr. Salameh's lawyer, Wassim Ghawi, presented a medical note to explain his absence. However, prosecutors could not confirm if he was actually admitted to the hospital at that time. His personal doctor also could not confirm his hospital stay.
Following this, Judge Ahmad Rami Al Hajj ordered a police search of Mr. Salameh's three homes. Since he did not appear, the judge issued an official search and arrest warrant. Police later found and arrested him at the hospital.
"Riad Salameh has been evading justice in many ways," Fouad Debs, a lawyer with the Depositors Association, which helps advocate for those who lost money during the financial crisis, told The National. "To a large extent, these bankers who have created this financial crisis – which is still ongoing – have been doing anything in their capacity to sabotage any recovery plan."
Mr. Debs added that the next key step is to see if Mr. Salameh will remain under arrest and face a trial. Currently, it is not clear if authorities will keep him in the hospital or move him to another secure location.
Background of the Investigation
Mr. Salameh served as the head of Lebanon’s central bank for 30 years, from 1993 to 2023. He faces multiple investigations both in Lebanon and in Europe.
One major case involves a company called Forry Associates, which was run by his brother, Raja Salameh. Investigators allege that large sums of money were taken from the central bank through this company. Another case involves French real estate, including properties on the Champs-Elysees. Mr. Salameh was previously released on a $20 million bail in July 2025.
Authorities in Europe have seized real estate properties belonging to the family, worth around $92 million. These include luxury homes and commercial buildings.
A Shift in Reputation
For many years, Mr. Salameh was seen as a highly successful and powerful financial leader in the Middle East. However, his reputation changed after Lebanon's severe financial crisis began in 2019.
Many critics blamed the country's economic crisis on years of financial mismanagement and corruption. Mr. Salameh stepped down from his post in July 2023 and has always denied any wrongdoing.
"The whole issue with the Riad Salameh case, as well as that of other bankers involved in this crisis, is that in Lebanon, justice and accountability are very slow, if they ever happen," Debs said. "But we cannot say [the arrest] is not a good thing, even if it is just a facade. That's how little trust and confidence we have in the local judiciary."
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AI contributed to the creation of this article.