French judge issues arrest warrant for Lebanon’s Riad Salameh

▶ Central bank chief did not attend hearing in Paris and says courts are applying double standards

The French judiciary has issued an arrest warrant for Lebanon’s Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh after he failed to attend a hearing in Paris yesterday, two sources told The National.

Mr Salameh, his brother Raja and the central bank chief’s assistant are being investigated in Lebanon and at least six European countries in connection with the alleged embezzlement of more than $330 million from the institution.

AFP reported that the judge had issued an international arrest warrant.

Judges could also request an Interpol red notice, a call to law enforcement agencies to find and temporarily detain Riad Salameh.

Mr Salameh yesterday said the warrant “constitutes a clear violation of the most basic laws,” including French and international laws, and that he will appeal it.

He said French officials neglected the “confidentiality of investigations”, and contradicted “the presumption of innocence” in its approach, and in its selective application of texts and laws.

The judge “has made her decision based on preconceived ideas without giving any value to clear supporting documents”, Mr Salameh said.

“This is the justice built on double standards that is being applied here.”

The hearing yesterday was set for 9.30am, court documents seen by Reuters showed.

Prosecutors intended to press preliminary charges and sought to formally name Riad Salameh as a suspect.

On Monday, Mr Salameh failed to respond to a summons sent by the Lebanese judiciary for the hearing in France. Beirut judge Charbel Abou Samra tried to contact Mr Salameh to make him aware of the hearing on three occasions, but the governor, or a representative who could sign for him, could not be reached.

All the notification letters were returned to the judiciary.

The date for yesterday’s hearing was set last month, and Lebanon lifted a travel ban on Mr Salameh to allow him to make the journey.

Reuters reported that another judicial source said defence lawyers for the Salamehs and for Marianne Hoayek, the central bank chief’s assistant, had submitted an objection to Lebanon’s judiciary over the French case, saying France should not be allowed to try a case being investigated in Lebanon.

The three have been charged in two separate cases in Lebanon. The Salameh brothers deny any wrongdoing.

Lebanese banker and former minister Marwan Kheireddine has been charged by a court in Paris “for aggravated money laundering charges and participation in a criminal conspiracy”, the French deputy financial prosecutor said in April.

He is suspected of having falsified banking documents supposed to account for Riad Salameh’s wealth.

In July 2022, Anna Kosakova, a former partner of the central bank governor, was placed under formal investigation in France for alleged criminal conspiracy, organised money laundering, and aggravated tax fraud.

During a visit to Lebanon in March, a delegation of European prosecutors questioned Riad Salameh about the Lebanese central bank’s assets and investments outside the country, a Paris flat – which he owns – and Raja Salameh’s brokerage firm Forry Associates.

Investigators are looking into whether Forry was used as a vehicle to siphon off the state funds.

The visit by the judicial delegation was one of several they have made in connection with the case this year.