BEIRUT: Former Lebanese central bank governor Riad Salameh was placed under police guard in hospital on Friday, a day after missing a hearing in an alleged embezzlement case, a judicial official told AFP.
Salameh had been due to appear in court on Thursday in connection with a complaint filed by new central bank governor Karim Soueid accusing him of embezzlement, illicit enrichment and money laundering.
When he failed to appear, a judge directed authorities to escort him to court. Instead Salameh decided to go voluntarily but fell ill en route, and the judiciary postponed the hearing, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
However, later on Thursday, when Salameh was not found at the hospital emergency department or at addresses registered for him, the judge issued another order for security forces to find him and bring him in for questioning.
After he was located at a hospital outside Beirut, the judge on Friday ordered the security forces “to reinforce measures in the wing where Salameh is staying” and at the facility’s entrances, and for the former bank chief to be considered “in custody,” the official added.
