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Carlos Ghosn Attacks Japan and Nissan in Defense of His Escape: Live Updates Carlos Ghosn Attacks Japan and Nissan in Defense of His Escape
(32 minutes later)
For the first time since he fled Japan more than a week ago, Carlos Ghosn is telling his story to the public. It was part corporate presentation, part legal defense, part rambling tirade.
Mr. Ghosn, the former head of an auto empire that spanned continents, was facing charges of financial wrongdoing and had been under house arrest in Tokyo since spring. For more than two hours on Wednesday, Carlos Ghosn, the former Nissan executive who fled house arrest in Japan and surfaced in Lebanon last month, launched an impassioned defense of his decision to escape, portraying himself as the victim of a rigged justice system and a corporate coup by disloyal underlings.
On Wednesday, at a news conference in Beirut, the Lebanese capital city where he has since taken refuge, Mr. Ghosn portrayed himself as the victim of a rigged justice system and a corporate coup by disloyal underlings. Mr. Ghosn, the former head of an auto empire that spanned continents, was facing charges of financial wrongdoing and had been arrested in late 2018. The reporters who gathered to hear Mr. Ghosn speak in Beirut had hoped for an account of his daring international escape — a dash across Japan to a chartered jet that carried him out of the country.
As an international fugitive, Mr. Ghosn faces an uncertain future. He is intent on clearing his name, but it’s unclear what legal route he could take. Instead, they were treated to a wide-ranging, sometimes hard to follow defense against the charges that Japanese prosecutors had leveled against him. He attacked authorities in Tokyo as well as executives at Nissan.
Mr. Ghosn, speaking in English, French and Arabic, said he was the victim of “character assassination” and “political persecution.”
“I did not escape justice,” he said. “I fled injustice.”
As an international fugitive, Mr. Ghosn faces an uncertain future. He is intent on clearing his name, but it is unclear what legal route he could take.
“I am used to what you call Mission Impossible,” he said, responding to a question from a reporter about whether he will spend the rest of his life as a fugitive. He added: “I would be willing to stand trial anywhere where I think I could have a fair trial.”“I am used to what you call Mission Impossible,” he said, responding to a question from a reporter about whether he will spend the rest of his life as a fugitive. He added: “I would be willing to stand trial anywhere where I think I could have a fair trial.”
Mr. Ghosn is a citizen of France, Brazil and Lebanon. Asked whether he would consider going to France, Mr. Ghosn said he was content in Lebanon. “I’m very happy to be here,” he said. “I’m with my friends, I’m with my family, my kids can come visit me. I can use the phone, I can use the internet.”Mr. Ghosn is a citizen of France, Brazil and Lebanon. Asked whether he would consider going to France, Mr. Ghosn said he was content in Lebanon. “I’m very happy to be here,” he said. “I’m with my friends, I’m with my family, my kids can come visit me. I can use the phone, I can use the internet.”
In recent days, officials in France have hardened their stance on Mr. Ghosn, calling him a “defendant like any other” and saying he should face justice in a court of law.In recent days, officials in France have hardened their stance on Mr. Ghosn, calling him a “defendant like any other” and saying he should face justice in a court of law.
Nearly an hour into the news conference, Mr. Ghosn had not taken a single question from the reporters who gathered in Beirut hoping to hear an account of his escape. Mr. Ghosn began his speech as if he were giving a corporate presentation, promising a point-by-point defense and projecting documents onto a screen. It looked as if he were set to draw on his background as a detail-oriented chief executive to sell another product: himself.
Instead, he focused on detailing his legal defense, outlining the minutiae of the case against him and discussing specific emails and statements to prosecutors, complete with a presentation of documents to support his argument. The documents were full of highlighted bullet points and red outlines. But there was a problem: The text was too small for anyone in the room to read. He focused on detailing his legal defense, outlining the minutiae of the case against him and discussing specific emails and statements to prosecutors, complete with a presentation of documents to support his argument. The documents were full of highlighted bullet points and red outlines. But there was a problem: The text was too small for anyone in the room to read.
He noted that both of his companies have fared worse without him. “By the way, the market cap decrease of Nissan is more than $10 billion,” he says. “By the way Renault is not better. … The market cap of Renault went down by more than $5 billion.” He noted that both of his companies had fared worse without him. “By the way, the market cap decrease of Nissan is more than $10 billion,” he said. “By the way, Renault is not better. … The market cap of Renault went down by more than $5 billion.”
“As a shareholder of Nissan, I say who is protecting me,” he said. “As a shareholder of Nissan, I say who is protecting me?” he said.
At times he sounded like he was addressing a corporate board, not a global television audience. His soliloquy on corporate finance got deep into the weeds of how Nissan accounted for compensation and corporate expenses. At times he sounded as if he were addressing a corporate board, not a global television audience. His soliloquy on corporate finance got deep into the weeds of how Nissan accounted for compensation and corporate expenses.
Mr. Ghosn began his speech as if he were giving a corporate presentation, promising a point-by-point defense and projecting documents on to a screen. It looked as if he were set to draw on his background as a detail-oriented chief executive to sell another product: himself. Mr. Ghosn pushed his theory that his arrest was the work of Nissan executives, saying he thought his arrest was motivated by the fact that Nissan’s performance had begun to decline.
But he soon began to ramble, jumping from descriptions of his treatment by Japanese prosecutors to his theory that his arrest was the work of Nissan executives. Mr. Ghosn said he thought his arrest was motivated by the fact that Nissan’s performance had begun to decline.
“The collusion between Nissan and the prosecutor is everywhere,” he said.“The collusion between Nissan and the prosecutor is everywhere,” he said.
And, he said, the charge of underreporting income isn’t one that should have landed him in jail.And, he said, the charge of underreporting income isn’t one that should have landed him in jail.
“There is no democratic country I know where you go to jail for these kinds of accusations, even if they were right,” he said.“There is no democratic country I know where you go to jail for these kinds of accusations, even if they were right,” he said.
Mr. Ghosn has also claimed the charges against him were an effort by Nissan and Japanese officials to prevent a merger with Renault.Mr. Ghosn has also claimed the charges against him were an effort by Nissan and Japanese officials to prevent a merger with Renault.
Taking questions from reporters, he said that rather than a merger, he had proposed creating a holding company that would have had one board of directors but allowed Nissan and Renault to continue operating as separate companies.Taking questions from reporters, he said that rather than a merger, he had proposed creating a holding company that would have had one board of directors but allowed Nissan and Renault to continue operating as separate companies.
Mr. Ghosn briefly turned to an even more personal issue: “Let’s go to character assassination,” he said.Mr. Ghosn briefly turned to an even more personal issue: “Let’s go to character assassination,” he said.
He began with a defense of a lavish party that he held at the Palace of Versailles in 2016, which has been the subject of an ongoing investigation by French prosecutors since it was referred to them by Renault. At question is whether the party was a misuse of company money, because it coincided with his wedding to his second wife, Carole, and with her 50th birthday. He began with a defense of a lavish party that he held at the Palace of Versailles in 2016 that has been the subject of an investigation by French prosecutors. At question is whether the party was a misuse of company money, because it coincided with Mr. Ghosn’s wedding to his second wife, Carole, and with her 50th birthday.
Mr. Ghosn said the party emerged from a pre-existing relationship between Versailles and the auto alliance.Mr. Ghosn said the party emerged from a pre-existing relationship between Versailles and the auto alliance.
“We were big sponsors of Versailles,” he said. “The image of Versailles fits with the image of the alliance.”“We were big sponsors of Versailles,” he said. “The image of Versailles fits with the image of the alliance.”
Still, he said, “Obviously this is not a very cheap party.”Still, he said, “Obviously this is not a very cheap party.”
One of the major public criticisms of Mr. Ghosn has been over houses purchased by Nissan, which reports have said where made for the benefit of Mr. Ghosn. The properties include houses in Rio de Janeiro and Beirut. One of the major public criticisms of Mr. Ghosn has involved houses that reports have said Nissan purchased for Mr. Ghosn’s benefit. The properties include houses in Rio de Janeiro and Beirut.
On Wednesday, Mr. Ghosn argued the purchases of the houses were made with the assent of top officials at Nissan. He displayed documents which he said showed that Greg Kelly, his onetime lieutenant, and Hiroto Saikawa, his successor as chief executive and one of the company officials he blames for his downfall, signed off on the purchases. On Wednesday, Mr. Ghosn argued that the houses were purchased with the assent of top officials at Nissan. He displayed documents that he said showed that Greg Kelly, his onetime lieutenant, and Hiroto Saikawa, his successor as chief executive and one of the company officials he blames for his downfall, signed off on the purchases.
The criminal charges against Mr. Ghosn in Japan do not include the properties. But Mr. Ghosn said the accusations were publicly leaked as part of a Nissan smear campaign. The criminal charges against Mr. Ghosn in Japan do not include the properties. But Mr. Ghosn said the accusations were leaked as part of a Nissan smear campaign.
“This is not part of the charges,” he said. “This is part of the character assassination.”“This is not part of the charges,” he said. “This is part of the character assassination.”
Since his arrest, Mr. Ghosn and his family have denounced the Japanese justice system, arguing that the former auto executive has been a victim of “injustice and political persecution.” His comments followed a similar line. Since his arrest, Mr. Ghosn and his family have denounced the Japanese justice system, arguing that the former auto executive had been a victim of “injustice and political persecution.” His comments followed a similar line.
“I have not experienced a moment of freedom since Nov. 19, 2018,” he told the room of reporters. “It is impossible to express the depth of the aggravation and my profound appreciation once again to be able to be reunited with my family and loved ones.”“I have not experienced a moment of freedom since Nov. 19, 2018,” he told the room of reporters. “It is impossible to express the depth of the aggravation and my profound appreciation once again to be able to be reunited with my family and loved ones.”
Mr. Ghosn defended his decision to flee Japan rather than face trial. “It was the most difficult decision of my life,” he said.Mr. Ghosn defended his decision to flee Japan rather than face trial. “It was the most difficult decision of my life,” he said.
“I did not escape justice. I fled injustice and political persecution,” he added. “I was left with no other choice but to protect myself and my family.”“I did not escape justice. I fled injustice and political persecution,” he added. “I was left with no other choice but to protect myself and my family.”
Mr. Ghosn also assailed his treatment by prosecutors.Mr. Ghosn also assailed his treatment by prosecutors.
“It will be over if you just confess,” he said, recalling what Japanese officials told him. “If you don’t confess, not only are we going to go after you, we are going to go after your family.”“It will be over if you just confess,” he said, recalling what Japanese officials told him. “If you don’t confess, not only are we going to go after you, we are going to go after your family.”
And he told reporters that he was not planning to “talk about how I managed to escape from Japan.” Mr. Ghosn ended his comments with an appeal to the Japanese public, saying he loved the country and arguing that its people had continued to support him even as its government turned against him.
“I am here to talk about why I left,” he said. Mr. Ghosn walked with his wife, Carole, into a frenzy of camera operators in a plain white conference room in Beirut, with a burst of flash bulbs going off. Organizers were pleading with the camera operators to back off. A burly, bearded bodyguard stood next to Mr. Ghosn at the lectern.
Mr. Ghosn ended his comments with an appeal to the Japanese public, saying he loved the country and arguing that its people have continued to support him even as its government turned against him.
Mr. Ghosn walked with his wife, Carole, into a frenzy of cameramen in a plain white conference room in Beirut, with a burst of flash bulbs going off. Organizers were pleading with the cameramen to back off. A burly, bearded bodyguard stood next to Mr. Ghosn at the lectern.
Before he emerged, more than 100 journalists from across the world had jostled to get inside the conference room at the Lebanese Press Syndicate. A security team checked IDs and bags, and Lebanese reporters interviewed their Japanese counterparts about Mr. Ghosn’s escape from Tokyo.Before he emerged, more than 100 journalists from across the world had jostled to get inside the conference room at the Lebanese Press Syndicate. A security team checked IDs and bags, and Lebanese reporters interviewed their Japanese counterparts about Mr. Ghosn’s escape from Tokyo.
Then the power briefly went out, as is wont to happen in Lebanon, where daily power cuts force the population to rely on private generators.Then the power briefly went out, as is wont to happen in Lebanon, where daily power cuts force the population to rely on private generators.
Mr. Ghosn, 65, a celebrity in Japan and a hero to many in Lebanon, oversaw a turnaround at Nissan starting in the late 1990s and had the rare position of running two major companies simultaneously: Nissan and France’s Renault. Mr. Ghosn, 65, a celebrity in Japan and a hero to many in Lebanon, oversaw a turnaround at Nissan starting in the late 1990s and had the rare position of running two major companies simultaneously: Nissan and Renault, based in France.
Born in Brazil 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 and became head of the company’s North American operations. He lived in Greenville, S.C., before joining Renault as an executive in the 1990s.Born in Brazil 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 and became head of the company’s North American operations. He lived in Greenville, S.C., before joining Renault as an executive in the 1990s.
But his career collapsed in late 2018, when he was arrested by the Japanese authorities and later charged with underreporting his compensation and shifting personal financial losses to Nissan. Nissan had also been indicted on charges of improperly reporting Mr. Ghosn’s income — and had said it would cooperate with prosecutors.But his career collapsed in late 2018, when he was arrested by the Japanese authorities and later charged with underreporting his compensation and shifting personal financial losses to Nissan. Nissan had also been indicted on charges of improperly reporting Mr. Ghosn’s income — and had said it would cooperate with prosecutors.
Throughout the more than 13 months since he was first arrested, Mr. Ghosn has denied any wrongdoing.Throughout the more than 13 months since he was first arrested, Mr. Ghosn has denied any wrongdoing.
Mr. Ghosn’s escape late last month seemed to be written by Hollywood screenwriters — and, in fact, the fallen auto executive met with a Hollywood producer before his escape.Mr. Ghosn’s escape late last month seemed to be written by Hollywood screenwriters — and, in fact, the fallen auto executive met with a Hollywood producer before his escape.
Accompanied by a former United States Green Beret turned security consultant, Mr. Ghosn was flown from Osaka to Istanbul and then to Beirut, evading authorities in at least two countries and crossing borders.Accompanied by a former United States Green Beret turned security consultant, Mr. Ghosn was flown from Osaka to Istanbul and then to Beirut, evading authorities in at least two countries and crossing borders.
After his arrest in Japan, Mr. Ghosn was held for more than 100 days, after which he was in and out of jail. He was released after he posted bail and agreed to strict conditions: He could not leave Tokyo, and his movements would be monitored, although he was not required to wear an ankle bracelet.After his arrest in Japan, Mr. Ghosn was held for more than 100 days, after which he was in and out of jail. He was released after he posted bail and agreed to strict conditions: He could not leave Tokyo, and his movements would be monitored, although he was not required to wear an ankle bracelet.
After he was arrested again in April, prosecutors imposed another condition for his release: Mr. Ghosn was forbidden from communicating with his wife. For seven months, the two did not speak a word to each other.After he was arrested again in April, prosecutors imposed another condition for his release: Mr. Ghosn was forbidden from communicating with his wife. For seven months, the two did not speak a word to each other.
No official account of how Mr. Ghosn escaped has emerged yet. But reporting by The New York Times and news media in multiple countries has revealed a basic outline of what likely took place. No official account of how Mr. Ghosn escaped has emerged yet. But reporting by The New York Times and the news media in multiple countries has revealed a basic outline of what likely took place.
On the afternoon of Dec. 29, he walked out of his home in Tokyo and took a bullet train to Osaka, about 340 miles southwest of the capital. Then he boarded a corporate jet at Kansai International Airport, hidden inside a box designed for concert equipment. He landed at Istanbul Ataturk Airport, switched planes and flew to Beirut.On the afternoon of Dec. 29, he walked out of his home in Tokyo and took a bullet train to Osaka, about 340 miles southwest of the capital. Then he boarded a corporate jet at Kansai International Airport, hidden inside a box designed for concert equipment. He landed at Istanbul Ataturk Airport, switched planes and flew to Beirut.
The escape plan was months in the making: A team of operatives spent hundreds of thousands of dollars scoping out airports and other entry points in at least five countries before settling on Turkey as a stopover between Japan and Lebanon.The escape plan was months in the making: A team of operatives spent hundreds of thousands of dollars scoping out airports and other entry points in at least five countries before settling on Turkey as a stopover between Japan and Lebanon.
Mr. Ghosn was aided in the escape by Michael Taylor, a former member of an Army Special Forces team who had ties to Lebanon and accompanied him on the plane from Japan to Turkey. When he spoke on Wednesday, Mr. Ghosn was quick to tell reporters that he was not planning to talk about the escape.
“I am here to talk about why I left,” he said.
The authorities entered the offices of Carlos Ghosn’s lawyers in Japan with a search warrant on Wednesday, more than a week after the fallen auto executive publicly announced that he had fled the country.The authorities entered the offices of Carlos Ghosn’s lawyers in Japan with a search warrant on Wednesday, more than a week after the fallen auto executive publicly announced that he had fled the country.
But the law firm of Junichiro Hironaka, Mr. Ghosn’s top lawyer in Japan, said that lawyers kept the authorities from confiscating two computers that Mr. Ghosn had used.But the law firm of Junichiro Hironaka, Mr. Ghosn’s top lawyer in Japan, said that lawyers kept the authorities from confiscating two computers that Mr. Ghosn had used.
In a written statement, Mr. Hironaka’s office said that six officials from the Tokyo prosecutors’ office arrived with a search warrant in the morning looking for the computers. The authorities left empty-handed, Mr. Hironaka’s office said. The computers belong to the lawyers and contain private client information, it said. In a statement, Mr. Hironaka’s office said that six officials from the Tokyo prosecutor’s office arrived with a search warrant in the morning looking for the computers. The authorities left empty-handed, Mr. Hironaka’s office said. The computers belong to the lawyers and contain private client information, it said.
The firm’s depiction of events could not be confirmed through the prosecutors, who declined to comment.The firm’s depiction of events could not be confirmed through the prosecutors, who declined to comment.
Reporting was contributed by David Yaffe-Bellany, Ben Dooley, Vivian Yee, Kevin Granville, Carlos Tejada and Geneva Abdul.Reporting was contributed by David Yaffe-Bellany, Ben Dooley, Vivian Yee, Kevin Granville, Carlos Tejada and Geneva Abdul.