Former Lebanese Central Bank Governor Arrested Amid Financial Crime Charges

Riad Salameh, Lebanon's ex-central bank governor, has been arrested amid allegations of financial crimes including money-laundering and embezzlement. Charged in multiple countries, Salameh denies any wrongdoing. With 30 years in office, he is under investigation for allegedly misappropriating and laundering hundreds of millions of dollars.

In a significant development, Lebanon's former central bank governor, Riad Salameh, was arrested on Tuesday during a judicial hearing in Beirut. A senior judicial source confirmed the news to Reuters.

Salameh faces a slew of financial charges, including money-laundering, embezzlement, and illicit enrichment. Despite these serious accusations, Salameh maintains his innocence. He had been the central bank governor for three decades until July 2023. Notably, Germany had issued an arrest warrant against him during his final months in office, citing corruption allegations.

Salameh's legal troubles extend beyond Lebanon, as he is also being investigated by at least five European countries. These investigations accuse him of siphoning off hundreds of millions of dollars from Lebanon's central bank and laundering the money overseas, causing substantial financial harm to the Lebanese state.

(With inputs from agencies.)