Former Central Bank Governor of Lebanon Arrested by Beirut Court: Reuters

The former governor of Lebanon's Central Bank, Riad Salameh, was arrested in the capital Beirut on Tuesday following a court session, as reported by Reuters, citing a senior judicial source.

Salameh is accused of financial crimes, including money laundering, embezzlement, and illegal enrichment. He denies all allegations of wrongdoing.

The judicial source indicated that Salameh was apprehended at the Palace of Justice in Lebanon after hearings related to transactions between the Lebanese company Optimum Invest, which offers income brokerage services, and the central bank.

According to the agency's source, Optimum had agreements with the Lebanese Central Bank concerning the buying and selling of treasury bonds and deposit certificates in Lebanese pounds.

A statement posted on the company's website noted that a financial audit found "no evidence of wrongdoing or illegality" in the transactions made between the Lebanese Central Bank and the company.

The 73-year-old Salameh served as Lebanon's central bank governor for 30 years until July 2023. France and Germany have issued orders for the arrest of Riad Salameh on corruption charges.