The Lebanese judiciary today issued an arrest warrant against former Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh and two other lawyers on charges of embezzling public funds, forgery, and illicit enrichment. Salameh was detained for approximately 13 months on accusations of committing financial crimes during his tenure, and was released in September after posting a record bail exceeding $14 million. Salameh remains in Lebanon and is subject to a travel ban. The Beirut Prosecution Office, composed of judges Kamal Nassar as president and Marie Christine Eid and Roland Chertoni as advisors, stated in a statement that charges were brought against Salameh and lawyers Mroueh Jo Issa al-Khoury and Michel June Tawny for embezzling $44.8 million from the 'Consultations Account' at the Central Bank. The Prosecution Office also approved the request of the Financial Public Prosecution to conduct expanded investigations into how funds entered and then exited banks, without bank managers notifying the Central Bank of Lebanon's special investigation body. In a statement, al-Khoury denied knowledge of the 'Consultations Account' mentioned in the indictment, confirming that he did not participate in the Central Bank's financial transactions and did not receive any money from it. He added that the indictment itself called for the continuation of the investigation and that no charges should have been brought against him before its completion. Al-Khoury affirmed that the investigation has already proven that he did not receive any money from the Central Bank or any fees for his financial transactions.
