Lebanon’s former central bank governor, Riad Salameh, has been released from custody after posting a record-setting bail of over $14 million, ending nearly a year of detention on charges that have gripped the nation and reverberated across the global financial community. The decision, finalized on Friday, September 26, 2025, comes amid ongoing legal proceedings that continue to cast a shadow over the country’s battered economy and its once-revered financial leadership.
Salameh, who led Banque du Liban for three decades, has long been a polarizing figure. Once celebrated for his role in steering Lebanon’s post-civil war economic recovery, his legacy has been dramatically tarnished by a string of corruption allegations and his perceived role in the country’s economic meltdown. According to Reuters and AFP, Salameh’s release followed the payment of $14 million in U.S. dollars plus five billion Lebanese pounds—about $55,000—marking the highest bail sum ever recorded in Lebanese judicial history.
His release was not without significant restrictions. The court imposed a one-year travel ban, barring Salameh from leaving Lebanon as he awaits further legal action. The bail figure itself was only set after intense legal wrangling. Last month, the judiciary initially agreed to release Salameh on bail of over $20 million, but this amount was reduced following a request from his legal team. His lawyer, Marc Habka, confirmed to journalists that the bail had been paid and emphasized the gravity of the case: “We have presented to the court all the evidence to prove his innocence. It’s the right of the Lebanese people to know, in the end. If Riad Salameh is involved (in the alleged crimes), he will be convicted. If other people are involved, they will be convicted, and if he is innocent, he will be acquitted.”
Salameh’s health has been a recurring theme throughout his detention. In recent months, he was held under guard at Bhannes Hospital in north Beirut due to what officials described as deteriorating health. He was transferred to the hospital from jail, and his release was finalized as he remained under medical supervision. According to AFP, Salameh left the hospital on Friday after the judge signed the necessary documentation, and the travel ban came into effect immediately upon the payment of bail.
The charges Salameh faces are as complex as they are serious. He was arrested in September 2024 and indicted in April 2025 for allegedly embezzling $44 million from the central bank. These allegations are not isolated; Salameh has been subject to multiple probes both in Lebanon and abroad, including accusations of money laundering and tax evasion. In Lebanon, he is also charged with illicit enrichment related to an apartment rented in France, which officials allege was leased from his former romantic partner for about $500,000 annually, purportedly as a substitute office for the central bank if needed.
Despite the mounting accusations, Salameh has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He has publicly maintained that his wealth stems from private investments and his previous work at the U.S. investment firm Merrill Lynch, rather than from any illicit activity during his tenure at Banque du Liban. “I am a scapegoat,” he has insisted, as reported by AFP and Reuters, arguing that he is being unfairly blamed for Lebanon’s economic collapse.
Salameh’s fall from grace has unfolded against the backdrop of Lebanon’s devastating economic crisis, which began in late 2019. The World Bank has described the country’s financial collapse as one of the worst in modern history. The Lebanese pound plummeted, depositors lost access to their life savings, and the banking sector—once a regional powerhouse—has been left in shambles. Many Lebanese hold Salameh personally responsible for the crisis, citing his long-standing influence over the financial system and the policies that, in their view, led to disaster.
Yet, the story isn’t as clear-cut as assigning blame to a single individual. Salameh’s defenders point to decades of political paralysis, regional instability, and a deeply entrenched system of patronage and corruption that extends far beyond the central bank. For years, Salameh was lauded for keeping the economy afloat through turbulent times, including periods of war and political deadlock. His supporters argue that he is being used as a convenient target by political factions eager to deflect responsibility from themselves.
Salameh’s legal troubles are far from over. The charges he faces in Lebanon are mirrored by investigations in several European countries, where authorities have been probing possible financial crimes linked to his tenure. The Lebanese judiciary has already issued orders for his release in two other cases earlier this year, but the embezzlement and illicit enrichment cases remain active. The travel ban imposed by the Lebanese court underscores the seriousness with which the judiciary is treating these allegations, even as Salameh’s release raises questions about the country’s willingness and ability to hold powerful figures accountable.
The bail proceedings themselves have highlighted the extraordinary sums involved and the high stakes at play. According to a judicial official who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, the payment of $14 million in cash, supplemented by five billion Lebanese pounds, represents an unprecedented figure in Lebanese legal history. The official explained that Salameh’s release would be finalized “in the next few hours once legal procedures have been completed,” a process that was closely watched by both local and international observers.
Salameh’s departure from office in July 2023 marked the end of an era for Lebanon’s financial sector. His three-decade rule at the central bank spanned post-war reconstruction, periods of prosperity, and, ultimately, the country’s descent into economic chaos. The ongoing legal proceedings against him are likely to shape not only his personal legacy but also the future of accountability and reform in Lebanon’s institutions.
As Lebanon continues to grapple with its economic crisis, the case against Riad Salameh stands as a stark reminder of the challenges facing the country’s judicial system and the broader struggle for transparency and justice. Whether Salameh is ultimately found guilty or acquitted, the outcome will resonate far beyond the courtroom, influencing public trust in Lebanon’s institutions for years to come.