Former Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh and Ex‑Bank Executive Samir Hanna Charged with Embezzlement
A Lebanese judge filed an indictment against former central bank governor Riad Salameh and former Bank of Oda president Samir Hanna, accusing them of embezzling millions of dollars, illicit enrichment and bribery.
Charge details
The legal document alleges the misappropriation of over $250 million from the bank’s funds through four offshore companies, including entities in the Cayman Islands. It also claims Hanna paid bribes to Salameh while he was central bank governor.
Hanna, 88, posted a $1 million bail and is not detained, whereas Salameh is held in a government hospital outside Beirut under medical supervision after missing a court session.
Investigation context
This is the first time a commercial‑bank executive is implicated in financial crimes linked to Salameh, indicating Lebanese probes are widening to the private banking sector. Salameh previously faced similar cases in Lebanon, France, Switzerland and Germany, after serving 13 months in detention and being released on bail exceeding $14 million.
The public prosecutor reiterated that Salameh receives round‑the‑clock medical care, countering his family’s claims of inhumane detention conditions.
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