Lebanese Judiciary Detains Former Bank Chairman Over Fraud Suspicion
🇱🇧 The Lebanese judiciary has taken decisive action amid growing financial scrutiny, detaining former Chairman of Credit Bank (“Banc d’Credit”) Tarek Khalife and his advisor Ralph Sayyad. The two are being held under investigation on suspicion of embezzlement and falsifying documents related to the bank’s operations. The documents in question were reportedly submitted to Lebanon’s Special Investigation Commission (SIC) at the Central Bank.
According to the National News Agency (NNA), Lebanon’s Attorney General at the Court of Cassation, Judge Jamal Al-Hajjar, conducted a detailed two-hour interrogation with both individuals before ordering their detention pending further investigation.
A third bank employee, Anis Wakim, was also questioned but was released under surveillance and remains subject to continued inquiry.
The arrests mark another chapter in Lebanon’s struggle with financial accountability and ongoing efforts to recover billions allegedly misused or laundered through the country’s banking system. It also comes amid broader probes into financial corruption linked to Lebanon’s economic collapse, with judicial authorities promising full transparency and international cooperation.
