Lebanon's former central bank chief released on bail ahead of trial on corruption charges

Описание: (26 Sep 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:


ASSOCIATED PRESS
Baabdat, Mount Lebanon, Lebanon - 26 September 2025
1. Car arriving
2. Marc Habka, lawyer for Lebanon’s former Central Bank governor Riad Salameh arriving at Bahns Hospital, where Salameh is receiving treatment
3. Various exterior shots of Bahns Hospital
++NIGHTSHOTS++
4. Various of Bahns Hospital exterior
5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Marc Habka, lawyer for Salameh:
"The release of former governor Riad Salameh was based on the decision of the Indictment Chamber in Beirut. The decision to release him was made a month ago but was delayed due to the issue of bail. We made several attempts to request its cancellation based on Article 108, as the law stipulates that the governor should be released without any bail."
6. Mid of Journalists
7. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Marc Habka, lawyer for Salameh:
“We deposited the bail today, first and foremost out of our faith in the judiciary, and because for the past month we have been working on two fronts: on one hand, seeking to have the bail canceled in accordance with the law, and at the same time trying to secure the amount needed to pay it."
8. Pan from journalists to Habka
9. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Marc Habka, lawyer for Salameh:
“The release of the governor today marks a new chapter in the judicial process concerning the trial of Mr. Riad Salameh. This trial has been surrounded by populism, fabrications, and baseless accusations. I have said this before that in this ( presidential ) term, we truly hope that Mr. Riad Salameh will be tried in accordance with the law."
10. Habka convoy leaving
STORYLINE:
Lebanon's longtime former central bank chief, who is widely blamed for the country's economic meltdown, was released on bail of $14 million Friday after a year in jail awaiting trial on corruption charges.

Salameh ended his 30-year term as central bank governor a year ago under a cloud, with several European countries probing allegations of financial crimes.

Many in Lebanon hold him responsible for the crippling financial crisis that has gripped the country since late 2019, during which depositors lost their life savings as the value of the currency collapsed.

Salameh became the central bank chief in 1993 and initially celebrated for his role in steering Lebanon’s economic recovery after a 15-year civil war, and for keeping the economy on an even keel during long spells of political gridlock and turmoil.

He is now facing several criminal cases against him, both locally and internationally.

Last September, Lebanon charged Salameh with the embezzlement of $42 million, later adding charges of with illicit enrichment over an apartment that was rented in France to be a substitute office for the central bank if needed, which officials said Salameh had rented the apartment from his former romantic partner for about $500,000 annually.

While in detention, the 75-year-old former bank chief's health declined, and he was in a hospital outside of Beirut prior to his release on Friday.

The court denied a request by Salameh to be released without bail, setting the bail amount at $14 million.

It also imposed a travel ban on him.

Speaking to journalists outside the hospital, Salameh's lawyer said that Friday's developments marked a "new chapter in the judicial process concerning the trial".

"This trial has been surrounded by populism, fabrications, and baseless accusations. I have said this before that in this (Presidential) term, we truly hope that Mr. Riad Salameh will be tried in accordance with the law," said Marc Habka.


AP video shot by Fadi Tawil




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