The former governor of the Bank of Lebanon, Riad Salameh, during an interview with AFP in December 2021, while he was still head of the institution. (Credit: AFP)
BEIRUT — Former Banque du Liban (BDL) Governor Riad Salameh, who is facing multiple corruption-related investigations in Lebanon and abroad, was arrested Friday at Centre Hospitalier de Bhannes, in Dahr Sawan, in the Metn district, a judicial source confirmed to L'Orient-Le Jour. Authorities have yet to determine whether he will remain there, be transferred to another hospital or moved to prison, the source added.
On Thursday, Prosecutor General at the Court of Cassation Judge Ahmad Rami al-Hajj issued a search and arrest order for Salameh. He had been scheduled to appear that day for questioning in connection with a complaint filed against him and former Bank Audi CEO Samir Hanna by current BDL Governor Karim Souhaid. After Salameh cited health reasons for failing to appear — a claim the prosecutor's office said it could not verify — the order was issued, a senior judicial source told L'Orient-Le Jour.
Salameh had been due to be questioned by Advocate General at the Court of Cassation Samaranda Nassar, who was assigned to the case by the prosecutor general. According to information obtained by L'Orient-Le Jour, his lawyer, Wassim Ghawi, submitted a medical excuse before the hearing.
After prosecutors rejected it, they issued a warrant ordering Salameh's appearance, prompting security forces to search his primary and secondary residences on Thursday. Finding no one, officers photographed the outside of the properties and sent the images to the prosecutor as proof that they had attempted to execute the order.
Salameh later decided to appear voluntarily. However, while on his way to the hearing, he reportedly felt unwell and contacted the prosecutor's office, saying his blood pressure had risen to 230/130 and requesting medical attention. Hajj then reportedly authorized his absence. Several media outlets subsequently reported that Salameh had been admitted to a hospital emergency room.
Later Thursday, however, a senior judicial source told L'Orient-Le Jour that prosecutors had determined Salameh had not been admitted to any hospital emergency department. His personal physician was also reportedly unable to confirm whether he had gone to a hospital.
The state-run National News Agency also reported that Salameh was not found at any of the three addresses registered in his name in Safra, Faqra and Rabieh. Hajj subsequently issued a search and arrest order, concluding that the former governor was refusing to appear before the judiciary.
The prosecutor also ordered the release of Samir Hanna on $1 million bail, giving him until Monday to pay the amount in cash.
Souhaid has served as BDL governor since spring 2025. He was appointed after Vice Governor Wassim Mansouri served as acting governor for nearly two years following the end of Salameh's term. Salameh is widely considered one of the principal figures responsible for Lebanon's financial collapse, which began in late 2019.
Souhaid's complaint, filed in January, concerns securities allegedly purchased by the central bank in companies backed by Bank Audi shares as collateral. According to the complaint, those transactions caused significant financial losses by placing BDL funds in entities that were later found to be fictitious or financially distressed.
In late September 2025, Salameh was released on $14 million bail by the same indictment chamber after being detained since September 2024 in a separate case involving BDL and Optimum Invest. According to L'Orient-Le Jour's sources, his health deteriorated significantly during that period.
