Banned from leaving Lebanon, Riad Salamé could escape European justice

2023-05-24T21:49:58.165Z

Highlights: On Wednesday 24 May, a prosecutor banned the governor of the Bank of Lebanon, Riad Salamé, from leaving the country. He seized both his Lebanese and French passports. The boss of the Lebanese Central Bank is targeted by several investigations in Lebanon and Europe for ill-gotten gains. The prosecutor asked the French justice system to hand over the file of the case. If he concludes that the charges are well-founded, the head of the Central Bank will be tried in Lebanon, which does not extradite its nationals.

On Wednesday 24 May, a prosecutor banned the governor of the Bank of Lebanon, Riad Salamé, from leaving the country. He seized both his Lebanese and French passports. The boss of the Central Bank...

Banned from leaving Lebanon, Riad Salamé could escape European justice

On Wednesday 24 May, a prosecutor banned the governor of the Bank of Lebanon, Riad Salamé, from leaving the country. He seized both his Lebanese and French passports. The boss of the Lebanese Central Bank is targeted by several investigations in Lebanon and Europe for ill-gotten gains, through embezzlement of public funds amounting to $ 330 million.

Central Bank of Lebanon Governor Riad Salamé, during his interview by Agence France-Presse, December 20, 2021. AFP - JOSEPH EID

Text by: RFI Follow

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With our correspondent in Beirut, Paul Khalifeh

Riad Salamé appeared on Wednesday (May 24th) in Beirut before a prosecutor, who informed him of the charges against him on the basis of an Interpol red notice and an arrest warrant issued by the French courts. The governor of the Bank of Lebanon is suspected of "embezzlement", "financial embezzlement" and "money laundering", which he denies outright.

After forbidding Riad Salamé to leave the country and confiscating his passports, the prosecutor asked the French justice system to hand over the file of the case. If he concludes that the charges are well-founded, the head of the Central Bank will be tried in Lebanon, which does not extradite its nationals.

At first glance, the judge's actions against the governor appear harsh. In reality, the travel ban can serve as a pretext for Riad Salamé not to respond to the summons of the French justice and the German prosecutor's office, which also issued, Tuesday, May 23, an arrest warrant against him.

In Lebanon, the collusion between the judiciary and the political class that covers Riad Salamé is not in doubt, especially since the governor has suggested that he would drag politicians into his downfall if he were to be convicted.

Banned from leaving Lebanon, Riad Salamé could escape European justice

Banned from leaving Lebanon, Riad Salamé could escape European justice

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