Former Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh has been arrested following an extensive interrogation by State Prosecutor Judge Jamal Hajjar at the Justice Palace.
The arrest, which took place on Tuesday, comes amid ongoing investigations into alleged embezzlement exceeding $40 million from the Central Bank.
Salameh was questioned for three hours, with the interrogation focusing on the Optimum firm and its dealings with the Central Bank. The investigation scrutinized the contracts related to the buying and selling of treasury bonds and LBP certificates of deposit, as well as the commissions earned by the firm.
Following the arrest, Justice Minister Henri Khoury stated, “The judiciary has spoken, and we respect its decision.” Salameh has since been transferred to the custody of the Internal Security Forces.
This arrest marks a significant development in the ongoing legal battles surrounding Lebanon’s financial sector, with Salameh being one of the most prominent figures under investigation.
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