Lebanon demands arrest of central bank governor amid corruption charges

By Stephanie Radi

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AA) - The Lebanese Justice Minister demanded Wednesday the arrest of Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh on corruption charges.

The request came shortly after Salameh failed to appear before European investigators to answer accusations of embezzlement, money laundering, illicit enrichment and tax evasion.

The governor denies the charges.

The Justice Ministry demanded the arrest of Salameh, his brother Raja and his assistant Marianne Hoayek. It seized their properties and froze their bank accounts.

The embattled governor skipped a hearing by European investigators with his legal team saying it would have been "in conflict with national sovereignty."

A new hearing is set for Thursday.

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

Raja Salameh was released on bail in December 2022 after being detained for two months on the charges.

Several Lebanese parties blame the 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.

*Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report.