BEIRUT: A Lebanese judge ruled on Monday that Riad Salameh, the country’s former central bank governor, will remain in jail while facing an investigation into corruption charges involving tens of millions of dollars in public funds.
Beirut First Investigative Judge Bilal Halawi issued an arrest warrant against Salameh after the former official had earlier been detained for questioning over a series of financial crimes, including money laundering and the embezzlement of $42 million, during his time at the Banque du Liban.
Salameh was taken to the Justice Palace in Beirut from the headquarters of the Internal Security Forces Directorate, where he had been held since last week.
Secrecy surrounded Salameh’s transfer, with mock convoys used to mislead the media and dozens of angry depositors who came to the Justice Palace to demand the former official remain in custody.
Salameh left Halawi’s office in handcuffs after more than two hours of questioning.
Security staff prevented people lining the Justice Palace’s corridors, including judicial officers, from photographing Salameh as he entered and left.
Several attorneys attended Salameh’s first session following his detention.
Halawi scheduled a second hearing for Salameh next Thursday and requested the testimony of several witnesses.
Salameh, 74, was central bank governor for three decades until July 2023.
He had long been regarded as a financial expert, but left office with his reputation badly tarnished amid accusations of corruption and the catastrophic collapse of the Lebanese financial system in 2019.
Salameh’s media office said that he had previously cooperated in more than 20 criminal investigations in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, and has been cooperating with the investigation since his detention.
Following the 2019 financial crisis, Salameh is facing a large number of legal cases in both Lebanon and European countries.
Caretaker Justice Minister Henry Khoury said that the red notice issued by Interpol against Salameh was still in effect.
He also said that Salameh’s case was still pending before the French Court of Cassation, where his lawyers had appealed the decision issued by the French Court of Appeal in Paris to confirm the seizure of his property.
Salameh has denied previous corruption accusations.
Halawi on Monday began questioning Salameh amid heavy security.
The former official appeared calm during questioning, and at one point Halawi told him he could sit down if he was tired.
The judge told Salameh: “I would like you to give answers that convince the public opinion.”
Questioned about the $42 million, Salameh said that it was not depositors’ money, but from consultations.
Last Tuesday, Prosecutor Judge Jamal Al-Hajjar detained Salameh after questioning him for three hours.
Mark Habka, Salameh’s lawyer, said: “Salameh’s interrogation is a routine procedure, and the judge is obliged to issue an arrest warrant to complete the interrogation later.”
He stressed that “the circumstances of the session were not normal because the media misled the public opinion and portrayed Salameh as a fugitive from justice, while he willingly came to the session.”
“There are several politicians who do not want the truth to be revealed, and Salameh is speaking in the sessions based on documents and naming individuals,” he said.
