BEIRUT — Former governor of Lebanon’s central bank, Riad Salameh, has been formally charged with illicit enrichment and an arrest warrant has been issued against him, marking the second warrant in under two months. This information was provided by judicial sources on Thursday, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to restrictions on discussing the case publicly.
Salameh, aged 74, was charged by Mount Lebanon’s first examining magistrate, Nicola Mansour. The charge relates to the leasing of an apartment in France intended to serve as an alternative office for the central bank. Judicial officials revealed that Salameh rented this apartment from his former business partner, Anna Kosakova, for approximately $500,000 per year. According to the officials, the apartment is rather small and mostly vacant, containing only a few computers.
Following his questioning, Judge Mansour issued the arrest warrant for Salameh, who has been detained by Lebanese authorities since early September. The former governor has consistently denied numerous allegations of corruption, embezzlement, and illicit enrichment, claiming that his wealth is derived from inherited properties, investments, and his earlier career as an investment banker with Merrill Lynch.
In September, Salameh faced charges for the embezzlement of $42 million, transpiring just a day after he was detained. He concluded his three-decade-long tenure as the central bank governor a year ago, amidst investigations from several European nations concerning financial misconduct. Many Lebanese citizens hold him accountable for the severe financial crisis that has affected the country since late 2019.
Initially appointed in 1993, Salameh was once lauded for his influence in Lebanon’s economic revitalization following a devastating 15-year civil conflict, as well as for maintaining economic stability during prolonged periods of political strife. However, he currently confronts numerous ongoing legal matters, both within Lebanon and on an international scale.
Authorities in France, Germany, and Luxembourg are also probing Salameh and his associates for suspected illicit enrichment and the laundering of $330 million. Salameh has condemned the European investigations, asserting that they are driven by a media and political agenda aimed at turning him into a scapegoat.
Furthermore, he has been sanctioned by the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, while France has issued an international arrest warrant for him. However, Lebanon does not comply with extradition requests for its own citizens.