Marrakech – Lebanese singer Elissa has reportedly fallen victim to a large-scale financial fraud, losing more than $2.7 million (around MAD 27 million) to a businessman in 2019. 

According to local Lebanese media, the artist handed over the sum in exchange for receiving it back in cash, a common practice at the height of Lebanon’s liquidity crisis, but has yet to recover her money.

The case has since escalated to the courts, which issued a search and investigation warrant against the accused. 

Lebanon’s General Security Directorate confirmed in a statement on Facebook that the defendant did in fact depart the country. 

The agency explained that the warrant was not visible on its monitoring systems at the time, and said a committee of officers has been tasked with reviewing the case. 

All military personnel responsible for executing judicial measures at border crossings have been detained pending investigation.

The statement came after Lebanese journalist Hadi Al-Amin reported that the businessman, originally from the town of Jwaya, had fled through Beirut Airport two days earlier despite being wanted for fraud. 

He noted that the warrant, originally issued on July 23, for 10 days and renewed three times, remains valid.

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Al-Amin further alleged inconsistencies in how the case was handled, suggesting either the warrant was never circulated by the Internal Security Forces or it was removed from General Security systems. 

He warned that the escape raises serious questions about potential collusion, citing claims that large sums of money may have been paid to facilitate the businessman’s departure.

The case dates back to Lebanon’s 2019 financial collapse, when severe cash shortages forced many citizens, including celebrities, to rely on intermediaries to access U.S. dollars in cash in exchange for bank checks. 

According to reports, Elissa entrusted the businessman with the funds as part of this system, but never saw them returned.

The investigation remains ongoing.