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Carlos Ghosn’s Daring Escape to Lebanon: What We Know Carlos Ghosn’s Escape: What We Know
(2 days later)
A onetime titan of the automotive industry becomes a fugitive from the law, fleeing across the globe to escape what he called “injustice and political prosecution.”A onetime titan of the automotive industry becomes a fugitive from the law, fleeing across the globe to escape what he called “injustice and political prosecution.”
There are more questions than answers about Carlos Ghosn’s jarring announcement on Monday that he had evaded the authorities in Japan and arrived in Lebanon. But the news is the latest episode in a twisting tale. Carlos Ghosn, the former Nissan chairman, was arrested in Japan in late 2018 and charged with financial misconduct. On Monday, he appeared in Lebanon, with a jarring announcement that he had evaded the authorities in Tokyo.
Mr. Ghosn, the ousted automotive executive facing financial charges in Japan, announced that he had fled Tokyo and arrived in Beirut. He may be able to evade prosecution in Lebanon, which does not have an extradition treaty with Japan, but his travel outside the country would be restricted. The escape is the latest episode in a twisting tale, and Mr. Ghosn has promised he will speak further about his plans. For now, though, even as authorities react to the flight with raids and arrests, there are more questions than answers about how it happened.
Mr. Ghosn is a citizen of Lebanon, grew up there and has business interests in the area. Much about Mr. Ghosn’s cinematic flight remains shrouded in mystery, including how he was able to escape surveillance in Japan, how he arranged his flights to Lebanon and whether he was helped by any other countries.
Mr. Ghosn, 65, was once the epitome of the world-straddling corporate executive. He ran a global car empire as the architect and chief of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi automaking alliance. By slashing costs and creating efficiencies, Renault of France and Nissan of Japan prospered. He became a celebrity in Japan, even inspiring a manga comic book. Mr. Ghosn reportedly took a corporate jet from Osaka to Istanbul Ataturk Airport, and then switched planes and flew to Beirut, Lebanon, and authorities in Turkey detained seven people — including four pilots and airport ground workers — for questioning in connection with Mr. Ghosn’s escape, according to local media reports.
On Thursday, Lebanese justice minister said that the public prosecutor had received a “red notice” from Interpol related to Mr. Ghosn’s case, according to the state-run National News Agency. The red notice is akin to a “wanted” poster and is not an arrest warrant.
In Japan, prosecutors raided Mr. Ghosn’s house in an exclusive neighborhood of central Tokyo. After about four hours, they carried out heavy black briefcases, ignoring reporters’ questions.
Mr. Ghosn, 65, was once the epitome of the world-straddling corporate executive. He ran a global car empire as the architect and chief of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi auto-making alliance. By slashing costs and creating efficiencies, Renault of France and Nissan of Japan prospered. He became a celebrity in Japan, even inspiring a manga comic book.
Then, in November 2018, he was taken into custody in Tokyo and accused of understating his income to the financial authorities. He had been in Japan since then, either held in a cell or out on bail, awaiting trial in 2020.Then, in November 2018, he was taken into custody in Tokyo and accused of understating his income to the financial authorities. He had been in Japan since then, either held in a cell or out on bail, awaiting trial in 2020.
He has denied wrongdoing and says he was the victim of an internal coup by executives at Nissan who feared he would bind the Japanese company too closely with Renault. He has denied wrongdoing and said he was the victim of an internal coup by executives at Nissan who feared that he would bind the Japanese company too closely with Renault.
Born in Brazil to Lebanese parents and raised in Lebanon, Mr. Ghosn attended some of France’s best schools, the Lycée Saint-Louis and the École Polytechnique. He started his career at the tire maker Michelin, worked on his English and became head of the company’s North American operations. He lived in Greenville, S.C., before joining Renault as an executive in 1996.Born in Brazil to Lebanese parents and raised in Lebanon, Mr. Ghosn attended some of France’s best schools, the Lycée Saint-Louis and the École Polytechnique. He started his career at the tire maker Michelin, worked on his English and became head of the company’s North American operations. He lived in Greenville, S.C., before joining Renault as an executive in 1996.
He had homes in Paris, Amsterdam, Beirut and Rio de Janeiro; invested in art and wineries; and flew around the world on a corporate jet. Critics said his salaries were exorbitant, especially after the financial crisis of 2008, and denounced his taste for the good life. In 2016, he held a lavish Marie Antoinette-themed party at Versailles to celebrate his second marriage and his new wife’s 50th birthday — an event that may have been financed with Renault corporate money, the company said in February. He had homes in Paris, Amsterdam, Beirut and Rio de Janeiro; invested in art and wineries, and flew around the world on a corporate jet. Critics said his salaries were exorbitant, especially after the financial crisis of 2008, and denounced his taste for the good life. In 2016, he held a lavish Marie Antoinette-themed party at Versailles to celebrate his second marriage and his new wife’s 50th birthday — an event that may have been financed with Renault corporate money, the company said in February.
Japanese prosecutors have accused him of financial wrongdoing, including underreporting his compensation and temporarily shifting his personal financial losses onto Nissan’s books. Prosecutors have also charged Nissan and a board member, Greg Kelly, who is a United States citizen. Mr. Kelly was released from jail a year ago because he was having health problems, and is still in Tokyo, his lawyer said. Mr. Kelly also denies wrongdoing. Japanese prosecutors have indicted him with financial wrongdoing, including underreporting his compensation and temporarily shifting his personal financial losses onto Nissan’s books. Prosecutors have also charged Nissan and a board member, Greg Kelly, who is a United States citizen. Mr. Kelly was released from jail a year ago because he was having health problems, and is still in Tokyo, his lawyer said. Mr. Kelly also denies wrongdoing.
As his career took off elsewhere, Mr. Ghosn maintained close ties to the country. He has stayed in a salmon-colored mansion on a tree-lined street that was purchased for $8.75 million. An internal Nissan investigation found that a company investment vehicle bought the house; Mr. Ghosn’s family has said the company had long been aware of the purchase.As his career took off elsewhere, Mr. Ghosn maintained close ties to the country. He has stayed in a salmon-colored mansion on a tree-lined street that was purchased for $8.75 million. An internal Nissan investigation found that a company investment vehicle bought the house; Mr. Ghosn’s family has said the company had long been aware of the purchase.
Lebanon also offers legal protections, since Mr. Ghosn would be legally protected from extradition to Japan.Lebanon also offers legal protections, since Mr. Ghosn would be legally protected from extradition to Japan.
Mr. Ghosn may be able to evade prosecution in Lebanon, which does not have an extradition treaty with Japan, but his travel outside the country would be restricted.
Mr. Ghosn is a citizen of Lebanon, grew up there and has business interests in the area.
Once in Beirut, Mr. Ghosn met Lebanon’s president, Michel Aoun, and spoke to him about his legal issues, according to a person with knowledge of the meeting who requested anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss it. Mr. Aoun has denied the meeting.
French authorities on Thursday also said that they would not extradite Mr. Ghosn if he came to France. The former auto executive is a citizen of France, and “France never extradites its nationals,” said Agnès Pannier-Runacher, a junior economy minister.
Unclear. His three passports — from France, Lebanon and Brazil — were seized upon his arrest in Japan, and as a condition of his bail were held by his lawyers. The lawyers said on Tuesday that they still had his passports.Unclear. His three passports — from France, Lebanon and Brazil — were seized upon his arrest in Japan, and as a condition of his bail were held by his lawyers. The lawyers said on Tuesday that they still had his passports.
There are unconfirmed reports that he flew by private jet from Japan to Lebanon, a manner he is accustomed to. When he was first taken into custody by the Tokyo authorities in 2018, he was at his private jet in Tokyo.
There are also reports that he escaped in a box, or used a false identity or passport. Mr. Ghosn has some experience trying to evade those trying to find him. In March, when he left a Tokyo detention center after making bail, he dressed as a construction worker to throw off the awaiting media frenzy.There are also reports that he escaped in a box, or used a false identity or passport. Mr. Ghosn has some experience trying to evade those trying to find him. In March, when he left a Tokyo detention center after making bail, he dressed as a construction worker to throw off the awaiting media frenzy.
Nothing. Government offices and most businesses in Japan were closed ahead of New Year’s Day, the most important holiday on the Japanese calendar.
Mr. Ghosn’s lawyers in Japan, who were preparing for trial in the coming year, said they were surprised by the news. “I want to ask him, ‘How could he do this to us?’” said his lawyer, Junichiro Hironaka.
Mr. Ghosn had posted bail of $9 million, money that would appear to be at risk.
Mr. Ghosn has accused the courts and prosecutors in Japan of treating him unfairly. After he was taken into custody, he was held for more than 100 days in a small cell before bail was granted. He was later rearrested — the authorities burst into his house, according to Carole Ghosn, his wife — to face further charges, and would later make bail again.Mr. Ghosn has accused the courts and prosecutors in Japan of treating him unfairly. After he was taken into custody, he was held for more than 100 days in a small cell before bail was granted. He was later rearrested — the authorities burst into his house, according to Carole Ghosn, his wife — to face further charges, and would later make bail again.
The former executive has criticized what he called unnecessarily harsh tactics, like forbidding communication between him and his wife. (Prosecutors said the two could conspire to destroy evidence.) And he says the courts have unfairly barred his lawyers from looking at Nissan documents that could help him prove his case.The former executive has criticized what he called unnecessarily harsh tactics, like forbidding communication between him and his wife. (Prosecutors said the two could conspire to destroy evidence.) And he says the courts have unfairly barred his lawyers from looking at Nissan documents that could help him prove his case.