ALBAWABA - Following his detention on September 3rd, Lebanese authorities issued an official arrest warrant against former Central Bank governor Riad Salameh.
A judicial official told AFP that the investigating judge finished questioning Salameh and "issued an arrest warrant against him" days after he was taken into custody over alleged embezzlement.
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.
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.
