Riad Salameh hearing postponed after illness

Lebanon's judiciary postponed a Thursday hearing for former central bank governor Riad Salameh after he failed to appear because of illness, a judicial official told AFP.

Salameh, 76, was due in court over a complaint filed by new central bank governor Karim Soueid alleging embezzlement, illicit enrichment and money laundering.

A judge had directed authorities to escort Salameh to court after he failed to appear. The judicial official said Salameh instead decided to go voluntarily with his lawyer but fell ill while heading to the Palace of Justice, leading the judiciary to postpone the hearing.

The central bank previously told AFP it was the victim of the embezzlement of several hundred million euros, allegedly committed at its expense by Salameh with help from several people in his circle.

Salameh headed Lebanon's central bank from 1993 to July 2023. He has consistently denied wrongdoing and says he is being made a scapegoat for Lebanon's economic collapse, which began in 2019.

An initial hearing was held at Salameh's home last month because of his deteriorating health, with a judge presiding over his questioning.

Salameh was arrested in September 2024 and charged with offences including the alleged embezzlement of $44 million from the central bank. He was released a year later after posting bail of more than $14 million, but was barred from travelling.

French authorities have issued an international arrest warrant for Salameh. In May, the Swiss subsidiary of British bank HSBC was formally indicted in Paris, where investigators suspect it helped him embezzle funds.