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Nissan's ex-head Carlos Ghosn flees Japan to Lebanon Carlos Ghosn: Nissan's ex-head flees Japan to Lebanon
(about 3 hours later)
Former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn has travelled to Lebanon after leaving Japan, where he faces a trial over allegations of financial misconduct. Former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn has travelled to Lebanon after fleeing Japan, where he faces a trial over allegations of financial misconduct.
In a statement, Mr Ghosn said he had not fled justice but "escaped injustice and political persecution".In a statement, Mr Ghosn said he had not fled justice but "escaped injustice and political persecution".
It is unclear how he managed to leave Japan, where he was arrested in 2018. His lawyer said he was "dumbfounded" by the news and that he had not recently spoken with his client.
The former CEO was awaiting trial in the country and was barred from travelling abroad under strict bail conditions. It is unclear how the former CEO managed to leave the country, as he was barred from travelling abroad.
Mr Ghosn denies any wrongdoing. Mr Ghosn, who has an estimated net worth of $120m (£91m), was one of the most powerful figures in the global car industry until his arrest in November 2018. He denies any wrongdoing.
The 65-year-old was born in Brazil to parents of Lebanese descent and was raised in Beirut, before travelling to France for further education. He holds French and Lebanese passports. His case has attracted global attention and his months-long detention led to increased scrutiny of Japan's justice system.
The 65-year-old was born in Brazil to parents of Lebanese descent and was raised in Beirut, before travelling to France for further education. He holds French, Brazilian and Lebanese passports.
But his lawyer, Junichiro Hironaka, told reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday that Mr Ghosn's legal team was still in possession of his passports.
"I don't even know if we can contact him. I don't know how we will proceed beyond that," he said. Lebanon has no extradition agreement with Japan.
Mr Ghosn was released on $9m (£6.8m) bail in April under strict conditions that barred him from travelling abroad.
What did Carlos Ghosn's statement say?What did Carlos Ghosn's statement say?
Mr Ghosn released a short statement after multiple news agencies reported he had travelled to Lebanon.Mr Ghosn released a short statement after multiple news agencies reported he had travelled to Lebanon.
Confirming he had gone to the Middle East country, Mr Ghosn said he would "no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system where guilt is presumed, discrimination is rampant, and basic human rights are denied. Confirming he had gone to the Middle Eastern country, Mr Ghosn said he would "no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system where guilt is presumed, discrimination is rampant, and basic human rights are denied.
"I have not fled justice - I have escaped injustice and political persecution. I can now finally communicate freely with the media, and look forward to starting next week.""I have not fled justice - I have escaped injustice and political persecution. I can now finally communicate freely with the media, and look forward to starting next week."
Mr Ghosn has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing since he was first detained. His lawyers have accused the Japanese government of conspiring against him, calling the prosecution's case "politically motivated".Mr Ghosn has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing since he was first detained. His lawyers have accused the Japanese government of conspiring against him, calling the prosecution's case "politically motivated".
His wife Carole Ghosn told the BBC in June that authorities sought to "intimidate and humiliate" the couple.His wife Carole Ghosn told the BBC in June that authorities sought to "intimidate and humiliate" the couple.
How he could have left Japan remains unclear. Mr Ghosn was under strict bail conditions as he awaited trial in Japan, such as video surveillance of his home and restricted phone and computer usage.How he could have left Japan remains unclear. Mr Ghosn was under strict bail conditions as he awaited trial in Japan, such as video surveillance of his home and restricted phone and computer usage.
He had to surrender his passports to his lawyer, and had to ask for court permission to travel away from home for more than two nights.He had to surrender his passports to his lawyer, and had to ask for court permission to travel away from home for more than two nights.
According to Japan's Kyodo News agency, the terms of his bail remain unchanged.According to Japan's Kyodo News agency, the terms of his bail remain unchanged.
Red faces and questions in JapanRed faces and questions in Japan
By Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, BBC's Tokyo correspondentBy Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, BBC's Tokyo correspondent
Confirmation has now come that Carlos Ghosn is in Beirut and it came in dramatic fashion.Confirmation has now come that Carlos Ghosn is in Beirut and it came in dramatic fashion.
In a statement released to the media the former head of Nissan said he would no longer be held hostage by what he called a "rigged Japanese justice system where, he said, guilt is presumed, discrimination rampant and human rights denied".In a statement released to the media the former head of Nissan said he would no longer be held hostage by what he called a "rigged Japanese justice system where, he said, guilt is presumed, discrimination rampant and human rights denied".
In Tokyo there are now many questions and red faces. How did such a well-known figure, who had surrendered his passport, manage to leave a country which has no land borders?In Tokyo there are now many questions and red faces. How did such a well-known figure, who had surrendered his passport, manage to leave a country which has no land borders?
Japanese media is speculating that Mr Ghosn may have used a different passport with a different name.Japanese media is speculating that Mr Ghosn may have used a different passport with a different name.
Prosecutors had warned that Mr Ghosn was a flight risk, due to his great personal wealth and multiple citizenships, including that of Lebanon, with which Japan has no extradition agreement. Prosecutors had warned that Mr Ghosn was a flight risk, due to his great personal wealth and multiple citizenships.
What charges does Carlos Ghosn face?What charges does Carlos Ghosn face?
Once considered a hero in Japan for turning around Nissan - even becoming the subject of a Japanese comic book - Mr Ghosn spent 108 days in custody after his arrest in Tokyo in November 2018.Once considered a hero in Japan for turning around Nissan - even becoming the subject of a Japanese comic book - Mr Ghosn spent 108 days in custody after his arrest in Tokyo in November 2018.
Nissan sacked him three days after his arrest.Nissan sacked him three days after his arrest.
Prosecutors allege that he made a multi-million-dollar payment to a Nissan distributor in Oman. Nissan meanwhile has filed its own criminal complaint against Mr Ghosn, accusing him of diverting money from the company for his own personal enrichment.Prosecutors allege that he made a multi-million-dollar payment to a Nissan distributor in Oman. Nissan meanwhile has filed its own criminal complaint against Mr Ghosn, accusing him of diverting money from the company for his own personal enrichment.
He is also accused of under-reporting his own salary.He is also accused of under-reporting his own salary.
Mr Ghosn denies all the charges.Mr Ghosn denies all the charges.