Lebanese actress tied to corruption scheme allowed to enter country

BEIRUT, Lebanon — Lebanese actress Stephanie Saliba was allowed to freely enter the country via Beirut’s airport on Thursday, despite a search warrant in her name and accusations of money laundering and corruption. 

Saliba is being investigated for her ties to Lebanon’s central bank governor, Riad Salameh, who himself is the subject of an investigation by Lebanese and European authorities for corruption and embezzlement.

Lebanese prosecutor Ghada Aoun said on Thursday that she had ordered security forces to bring Saliba in for questioning. The case involves Salameh buying Saliba a luxury property using ill-gotten gains, Reuters reported.

Although Saliba is not charged with any crime she should have been apprehended at the airport, Wadih Akl, a Lebanese lawyer told L’Orient-Le Jour. Earlier reports have suggested high-level political interference in her entry into the country. 

Why it matters: Lebanon is facing a historic economic meltdown driven by cronyism and corruption by the ruling political class. Economically, it’s witnessing an increasing hike in the prices of all goods, basic necessities and oil and gas on an almost a daily basis. The local currency has been radically devaluated and $1 is equivalent to 42,000 Lebanese pounds. It was pegged at 15,000 pounds to the dollar just three years ago. The salaries of government employees and others still earning paychecks in Lebanese pounds have not been adjusted to the ongoing inflation, as people’s savings are still inaccessible and devalued via an illegal and unofficial capital control instilled by the banks.

Lebanon’s judiciary is also paralyzed by a strike that has been ongoing for five consecutive months. Only humanitarian cases and military courts are now operational.

Know more: Facing a political deadlock and an economic collapse, the presidential seat in Lebanon has been void since Oct. 31, with a caretaker government that seems to have no political will to execute needed reforms to finalize a deal with the International Monetary Fund. The country is battling to stay afloat while facing its biggest immigratiow wave amid an uncertain future and crushing economic circumstances.