Screenshot of video circulating on social media networks of small crowd circulating Riad Salameh as he leaves BDL at the end of his mandate. (Screenshot from social media networks)
BEIRUT — Around a dozen people, including journalists and colleagues, bade farewell to Riad Salameh Monday, on the last day of his 30-year mandate as Banque Du Liban (BDL) governor.
Videos circulated on social media networks showed festive music being played as Salameh walked out of the BDL headquarters.
آذار ١٩٩٠: ادمون نعيم بعد رفضه تمويل صفقة طباعة جوازات سفر مشبوهة سحل من المصرف المركزي على يد عناصر وزير الداخلية السابق الياس الخازن، استعان نعيم حينها بحارس وحيد يدعى حسين البروش وقال "ما تخليهن ياخدوني يا حسين".#رياض_سلامة ٣١ تموز ٢٠٢٣ بعد سحلنا جميعا ? pic.twitter.com/cpAeQ0Cik2
— Adam Chamseddine (@adamchams) July 31, 2023
A BDL employee read a statement calling Salameh the “wise captain” who was working for Lebanon’s interests throughout his term as BDL head.
Head of the BDL since 1993, Salameh, 72, is accused in Lebanon of corruption and of being one of the main culprits behind the financial crisis to hit the country since 2019.
Salameh is under investigation in Lebanon and several European countries, where is suspected of having built up a wealth of real estate and banking assets through a complex financial set-up and massive misappropriation of Lebanese public funds.