Germany issues red notice for Lebanon’s central bank chief

By Wassim Seif El Din

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AA) – Germany has issued a red notice for Lebanon’s Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh, according to Lebanese authorities on Tuesday.

In a statement, Lebanese Justice Minister Henry Khoury said he was notified of the red notice during his meeting with German Ambassador Andreas Kindl.

Earlier this month, a French investigative judge issued an international arrest warrant, followed by an Interpol red notice, for Salameh after he failed to show up in Paris for questioning.

The charges against the bank governor are related to the misappropriation of more than $330 million from the Banque du Liban through a contract awarded to Raja Salameh.

Last week, Lebanon imposed a travel ban on Salameh following the French arrest warrant against him.

Several Lebanese parties blame the central bank governor for the collapse of the nation’s currency.

Lebanon has been plagued by a crippling economic crisis since 2019 that, according to the World Bank, is one of the worst the world has seen in modern times.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara