SCHEMER
Riad Salameh
Riad Salameh
Former Central Bank Governor of Lebanon
Lebanon's most notorious financial defendant. Former Central Bank Governor of Lebanon (1993-2023). The 'mastermind' banker praised as a wizard, unmasked as the architect of Lebanon's collapse. Built a network for elite embezzlement, laundering, and regime survival. Salameh's legacy is a bankrupt nation, shattered currency, and unchecked corruption with global footprints.
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"Salameh ran Lebanon's finances for 30 years, then dodged prosecution while evidence mounted."
Evidence & Activities
THE ARCHITECT OF FINANCIAL FRAUD AND RUIN
- Embezzled $330M+ in public funds (2002-2015) via his brother's firm, Forry Associates, hiding proceeds through shell companies and European real estate.
- Arrested in September 2024 on $42M embezzlement charges, bail cut from $53M to $14M.
- Posted $14M bail in Sept 2025 despite frozen assets.
- Ran a Ponzi scheme to prop up Lebanon's pound; $70 billion in losses.
HEZBOLLAH & POLITICAL ENABLERS
- Allowed Hezbollah's cash networks to thrive, turning a blind eye to illegal dollar flows and sanctioned exchange houses.
- Accused of enabling systemic corruption with political allies, especially Hariri, ignoring bankruptcy warnings for decades.
SALAMEH'S CIRCLE OF IMPUNITY
- Raja Salameh (Brother): Sanctioned and indicted in Paris for $330M embezzlement and laundering scams.
- Nady Salameh (Son): Sanctioned, properties frozen.
- Marianne Hoayek (Assistant): Sanctioned for aiding corruption deals and funneling offshore commissions.
- Anna Kosakova (Associate): Sanctioned for laundering Salameh's real estate empire.
INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATIONS, GLOBAL FALLOUT
- Under probe in Switzerland, France, Germany, and Luxembourg for laundering $300M+ with $100M moved through EU banks, unchecked.
- French and German arrest warrants issued.
- Sanctioned by U.S., UK, and Canada since August 2023; Interpol red notice active.
End of Dossier
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