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Lebanese justice ministry formally accuses former cenbank chief of financial crimes

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Lebanon's justice ministry formally accused former central bank governor Riad Salameh on Thursday of financial crimes, the state news agency reported.

A demonstrator gestures next to a picture of former Lebanese central bank chief Riad Salameh, during a protest organized by Depositors' Outcry, a group campaigning for the rights of depositors in Lebanon, in support of his arrest, at the Justice Palace in Beirut, Lebanon September 5, 2024. Reuters/Mohamed Azakir

A demonstrator gestures next to a picture of former Lebanese central bank chief Riad Salameh, during a protest organized by Depositors' Outcry, a group campaigning for the rights of depositors in Lebanon, in support of his arrest, at the Justice Palace in Beirut, Lebanon September 5, 2024. Reuters/Mohamed Azakir

Lebanon's justice ministry formally accused former central bank governor Riad Salameh on Thursday of financial crimes, the state news agency reported.

Salameh, 73, was arrested on Tuesday over alleged financial crimes including illicit enrichment through public funds. He has long denied all accusations of wrongdoing.

He will remain in detention at least until a hearing is scheduled, probably next week, two judicial sources told Reuters on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Laila Bassam and Timour Azhari; Writing by Tala Ramadan; Editing by Michael Georgy and Gareth Jones)

Reporting by Laila Bassam and Timour Azhari

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