Months later, in July 2023, Salame stepped down as governor of Banque du Liban, ending a three-decade tenure at the central bank. In September 2024, Lebanese authorities arrested Salame in Beirut over his alleged role in a $44.8 million embezzlement scheme involving central bank commissions. European authorities allege that Salame siphoned more than $300 million from the central bank using a front company owned by his brother, which charged exorbitant commissions on commercial bank transactions. The action followed a complaint initiated by current central bank governor Karim Soueid in January targeting Salame and Hanna, who reportedly stepped down from Bank Audi's board that same month. He described the financial collapse as a shared responsibility between the state, the central bank, and commercial banks, categorically rejecting out-of-court settlements.