Former Lebanese Central Bank governor Riad Salameh was transferred to prison after previously being held under police guard in a hospital, AFP reported, citing a judicial source.

According to the source, who wished to remain anonymous, Salameh, who had earlier felt unwell on the way to court, was hospitalized and then, by decision of the judge, was “placed among the detainees” in prison.

The health condition of the 76-year-old Salameh will remain under constant monitoring. If necessary, he will receive medical care or be transferred to a hospital in accordance with judicial and medical procedures.

Salameh was due to appear in court in connection with a lawsuit filed by the new head of the Lebanese Central Bank, Karim Souaid. He is accused of embezzlement, illicit enrichment, and money laundering.

Earlier, Salameh failed to appear at the hearing, after which the court ordered that he be brought in. However, the former central bank chief decided to arrive on his own and felt unwell on the way, causing the hearing to be postponed.

It later emerged that Salameh was neither in the emergency department of the hospital to which he had been taken nor at his registered addresses. After that, the judge instructed the security forces to find him and bring him in for questioning.

After Salameh was located in a hospital outside Beirut, the court ordered heightened security measures around his place of stay and considered him to be in custody.

Last month, the first hearing in the case was held at Salameh’s home due to a deterioration in his health. The questioning was conducted under the supervision of the judge.

The Lebanese Central Bank previously told AFP that it was the “victim of embezzlement of funds worth several hundred million euros,” which the institution alleges was carried out by the former governor with the assistance of several people from his inner circle.

Riad Salameh headed the Lebanese Central Bank from 1993 until July 2023. During his tenure, he faced numerous allegations of embezzlement, illicit enrichment, and tax evasion as part of investigations in Lebanon and other countries.

Salameh himself has consistently rejected all accusations and claims that he was made a “scapegoat” for Lebanon’s economic crisis, which began in 2019.