Kerning Cultures Network (KC) is producing an original documentary called ‘The Lebanon Heist’, set to launch this coming summer. A documentary series, The Lebanon Heist is a 6-part podcast investigating the root causes of Lebanon’s devastating financial crisis, a crash among the worst globally since the mid-nineteenth century that led to millions of Lebanese citizens being robbed of their life savings.
The series will launch in both English and Arabic and will be hosted by award-winning Lebanese journalist Dalal Mawad and Middle East correspondent Finbar Anderson.
“This was a true crime story of global proportions,” says KC Producer and Lebanon Heist co-host, Finbar Anderson.
Through exclusive interviews, intrepid reporting and archival footage, the Lebanon Heist will tell the story of the crash from the perspective of the citizens who lost everything and those who built a state-sanctioned Ponzi scheme that caused the collapse.
“[It] is a personal story that has affected me and those that I love,” adds co-host Dala Mawad. “My whole life changed after 2019. My husband and I lost everything we had saved and hoped to build in Lebanon.”
The podcast will follow the active court case of the man at the heart of the collapse: once-revered Central Bank Governor, Riad Salameh, who is accused – both in Lebanon and in multiple European countries – of money laundering, embezzlement, forgery, illicit enrichment and tax law violations.
“Lebanon might be small in size, but the reach and impact of this crime is global. This series will serve as a canary in a coal mine for an international and regional audience who might, like we once did as Lebanese, think their money is safe. The fact is, no matter where you call home, your money is never really safe,” says Kerning Cultures Editor, Dana Ballout.
The Kerning Cultures Network production team includes Alex Atack, Dana Ballout, Ahmed Feteha, Heba Afify, Alma Intabli, and Mohamad Khreizat.
Tune into this season of Kerning Cultures on all podcast streaming channels.