In a significant development, Lebanon's judicial system has indicted former central bank governor Riad Salameh and ex-commercial bank head Samir Hanna on charges of financial crimes, including embezzlement and illicit enrichment. The allegations against Salameh, who led the Banque du Liban for three decades until July 2023, involve misappropriation of tens of millions from the central bank's funds. Hanna, the former head of Lebanon's Bank Audi, is accused of bribing Salameh during his tenure as governor. This marks the first time a commercial banker has been indicted in a financial crimes case linked to Salameh, indicating an expansion of the investigations into the private sector. Hanna, aged 88, paid a $1m bail and is not currently in custody while financial investigations continue. In contrast, Salameh, now 76, is under medical supervision at a government hospital outside Beirut following his detention last month due to missing a hearing over the case. The current central bank governor, Karim Souaid, revealed earlier this year that the central bank had filed a criminal complaint against an unnamed former official, a former banker, and a lawyer over alleged illicit enrichment through misuse of public funds. Salameh was previously detained for about 13 months over financial crimes committed during his tenure but was released in September after posting a record bail of more than $14m. He is also under investigation abroad, including in France, Switzerland, and Germany.