Lebanon arrests ex-economy minister Amin Salam in graft probe

Lebanon arrested former economy minister Amin Salam on Wednesday as part of an investigation into corruption linked to contracts deemed suspicious, a judicial source said.

Salam, who served in the cabinet of former prime minister Najib Mikati from 2021 to 2025, is the first ex-minister to be arrested since the start of Lebanon's economic crisis in 2019.

The source said he was arrested on the orders of prosecutor general Jamal al-Hajjar, after three hours of questioning in connection with alleged "falsification, embezzlement and suspicious contracts".

"He will be transferred to the financial prosecutor's office which will decide on further proceedings and...may refer to an examining magistrate," the source said, adding the case could involve accomplices.

Salam has been under suspicion for several years, particularly since his adviser, Fadi Tamim, was sentenced in 2023 to one year in prison for blackmail and personal enrichment at the expense of insurance companies.

His brother, Karim Salam, was also arrested two months ago in a "case of illicit enrichment, forgery and extortion of insurance companies", committed according to the same source "under cover of the minister himself".

President Joseph Aoun, elected in January, and the new Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, have vowed to make the fight against corruption a priority as part of the reforms demanded by international donors.

In September, Lebanon arrested the former Central Bank governor, Riad Salameh, on charges including theft, misappropriation of public funds, and illicit enrichment.