Lebanon’s central bank governor, Riad Salameh, has failed to appear at a hearing in Paris as part of an ongoing European investigation into allegations of fraud, money laundering, and illicit enrichment.
Salameh is the target of a series of judicial investigations both at home and abroad. He was summoned last month by a European judicial team from France, Germany, and Luxembourg looking into an alleged fortune amassed during his three-decade tenure. Lebanese police officers were reportedly sent to Lebanon’s central bank four times last week in an attempt to hand Salameh an official summons on behalf of the French authorities but they could not find him anywhere.
The summons was returned to Lebanon’s judiciary, which was expected to notify French authorities of the incident. Salameh has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and insists that his wealth comes from his previous job as an investment banker at Merrill lynch, inherited properties, and investments.
