German investigators arrived in Beirut as part of an ongoing probe into a corruption case linked to the Central Bank of Lebanon’s longtime leader, Riad Salameh. The development was confirmed by the Lebanese Minister of Justice, Henry Khoury, as reported by The National. The mission involves officials from Germany, France, and Luxembourg who are scheduled to travel to the Middle East province on January 16, with their judicial counterparts set to depart Lebanon on January 20. Khoury noted that Lebanon has received judicial cooperation requests from Germany, France, Luxembourg, and Switzerland in connection with suspected financial crimes, underscoring the cross-border effort to pursue potential wrongdoing.
The presence of European inspectors has sparked a fresh wave of political criticism inside Lebanon. Some observers view the inspections as a breach of national sovereignty, while others insist that international judicial cooperation, when conducted within the host country’s legal framework, does not infringe on Lebanon’s sovereignty. Khoury reaffirmed this stance, emphasizing that cooperation with foreign judicial authorities follows Lebanese law and safeguards the integrity of the country’s judiciary.
The European team is expected to question more than a dozen individuals, including Raja Salame, the brother of the central bank president, senior officials of major Lebanese banks, and supervisors from the Central Bank. Riad Salameh has repeatedly denied the corruption allegations, arguing that the case against him rests on news reports rather than solid evidence. He has alleged that the inquiries are politically motivated and a fabrication.
Earlier, in March, authorities in France, Germany, and Luxembourg froze assets exceeding $130 million tied to Salameh and associated partners. The five suspects are accused of embezzling about $330 million and 5 million euros from the Central Bank through a structure involving a company registered in the Virgin Islands, with the alleged involvement of Salameh. Source: The National.
Riad Salameh has chaired the Central Bank of Lebanon since 1993. His leadership has been a focal point in public debates about the country’s economic crisis. Critics argue that the central bank’s policies contributed to a severe debt burden and a drastic devaluation of the Lebanese lira, which has fallen by more than 90 percent against the dollar amid ongoing financial turmoil. Supporters, however, often defend the bank’s actions as responses to macroeconomic pressures and sanctions beyond its sole control. The investigation thus sits at the intersection of policy, governance, and broader economic distress that Lebanon has faced for years.
As the probes unfold, observers in Lebanon and beyond will be watching closely how the international inquiries intersect with domestic legal processes, the political climate, and the country’s fragile economy. The outcome could have far-reaching implications for how Lebanon manages international cooperation in corruption and financial crime cases, and it may influence public confidence in the institutions responsible for overseeing financial governance. The ongoing scrutiny also raises questions about transparency, accountability, and the mechanisms by which Lebanon addresses alleged abuses within the financial sector, particularly at the highest levels of national economic policy. The situation remains dynamic, with stakeholders continuing to pursue a path that reconciles sovereignty with international cooperation, while ensuring due process and avoiding politically motivated outcomes.