Facts
Adib Mayaleh served as governor of Syria’s central bank (2005–2016) and later as Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade. He is accused of financially supporting the Syrian regime during the war (2011–2017), allegedly enabling crimes against humanity and war crimes through his financial role.
Procedure
On 8 December 2016, a preliminary investigation was opened on the charges of crimes against humanity, war crimes, and complicity in these crimes committed since March 2011.
On 5 December 2017, a judicial investigation was opened on the charges of crimes against humanity, war crimes, complicity in these crimes, and laundering of the proceeds of these crimes.
On 16 December 2022, Adib Mayaleh was arrested on French territory.
On 20 December 2022, Adib Mayaleh was charged while under investigation (mis en examen) on charges of complicity in crimes against humanity and war crimes, laundering the proceeds of such crimes and participating in groups formed to prepare such crimes. He was placed under judicial supervision.
On 20 June 2023, Adib Mayaleh challenged his indictment and argued his functional immunity precluded any proceedings against him.
On 26 January 2024, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) joined the case as civil parties.
On 5 June 2024, the Investigative Chamber of the Paris Court of Appeal followed the civil parties’ reasoning and found that functional immunities do not apply in cases of international crimes. The defense has referred the case to the Supreme Court (Cour de cassation).
In parallel, on 21 May 2024, following a request from Adib Mayaleh, the investigative judges cancelled his indictment, on the basis that there was insufficient evidence against him at this stage of the proceedings. They placed Adib Mayaleh under the intermediary status of assisted witness.
On 21 May 2024, the prosecutor appealed the decision of the investigative judges. On 15 January 2025, the Court of Appeal confirmed the status of assisted witness for Adib Mayaleh.
On 25 July 2025, the French Supreme Court (Cour de cassation) found that there is an emerging norm of customary international law carving out an exception to functional immunities for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. As a result, the Court upheld the indictement of Adib Mayaleh.