Amine Salam, then minister of economy, during a press conference on Sept. 21, 2024. (Credit: Dalati and Nohra)
The Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, Judge Jamal Hajjar, ended the interrogation of former Economy Minister Amin Salam on Thursday, letting him leave on bail and reinstating his travel ban. Salam was being prosecuted in connection with a complaint lodged by the parliamentary Economy Committee, which accuses him of embezzlement, extortion from insurance companies and illicit enrichment, according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA).
Salam is accompanied by his attorneys Tony Frangieh and Samer al-Hajj, according to NNA.
On May 20, Salam faced a two-hour interrogation session by Hajjar, after which the magistrate chose not to bring Salam into custody, though he remains subject to the investigation's requirements. The questioning focused on allegations against Salam, his brother and associate Karim Salam, his advisor Fadi Tamim, and Elie Abboud, an auditor and president of the Certified Public Accountants’ Syndicate.
Karim had been in detention since April 8 following charges by the Financial Prosecutor's Office. On May 13, the Beirut Accusation Chamber, under Judge Maher Cheaito, dismissed an earlier decision by Beirut's First Investigative Judge Bilal Halaoui, who had ordered Karim Salam's release on bail.
