DAHER AL SAWAN Lebanon (AP) — Lebanon’s longtime former central bank chief, who is widely blamed for the country’s economic meltdown, was released on bail of $14 million Friday after a year in jail awaiting trial on corruption charges.

Riad Salameh ended his 30-year term as central bank governor in 2023 under a cloud, with several European countries probing allegations of financial crimes.

Many in Lebanon hold him responsible for the crippling financial crisis that has gripped the country since late 2019, during which depositors lost their life savings as the value of the currency collapsed.

Salameh became the central bank chief in 1993 and initially was celebrated for his role in steering Lebanon’s economic recovery after a 15-year civil war, and for keeping the economy on an even keel

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