Sources reported, to the Kuwaiti newspaper, “Al-Anbaa”, that “the alfa banks in Lebanon sent messages to the concerned authorities, that if Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh was arrested, they will close their doors and their chiefs will leave Lebanon, in protest against the way of dealing with such randomness with the banking sector.”

The banks recalled, “what happened when the banks closed after October 17, 2019. Banks will not object if the Council of Ministers decides to remove Salameh from his position and appoint someone else, in the proper legal manner.”

Earlier, the Public Prosecutor in Mount Lebanon, Judge Ghada Aoun, confirmed that she would continue to pursue Salameh, who was absent from a hearing as a witness, despite being summoned.

Judge Aoun pointed out, in a statement to CNN, that “the Lebanese State Security searched for Salameh in 3 different locations, last Tuesday, including the main headquarters of Central Bank and two personal addresses,” noting that “the Internal Security Forces State banned Security State members from entering the third site, which was identified as Salameh’s home, but it is not clear whether Riad Salameh is inside this site.” She described the obstruction as “unlawful and criminal”.