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Carlos Ghosn claims to be victim of 'Pearl Harbor' plot - business live Carlos Ghosn insists innocence over fraud charge 'plot' – business live
(32 minutes later)
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We’ve embedded a video stream of Carlos Ghosn’s press conference at the top of this liveblog - you might need to refresh to see it. After two and half hours, Carlos Ghosn’s press conference is ending as it began, with the former car chief insisting he is innocent.
Ghosn is now defending a recent visit to Israel - saying he travelled there as a Renault executive. If I’d had any hope of a fair trial, I’d never have fled, he says.
This visit has caused some anger in Ghosn’s new home, as it is a crime for Lebanese citizens to visit Israel due to the long-running conflict between the two countries. He also criticises prosecutors for issuing an arrest warrant for his wife Carole, for allegedly giving false information. Why do that nine months afterwards?
The BBC’s Simon Jack says Tokyo is going to respond to Ghosn’s claims of a government conspiracy against him. And with that, he’s finished.
A Japanese journalist reminds Ghosn that he has broken the law by fleeing to Lebanon. Q: Are you the Dreyfus of Lebanon?
Ghosn defends his decision to escape, claiming Japan’s prosecutor repeatedly broke the law by leaking details of the case against him Ghosn says he doesn’t understand the reference (to Alfred Dreyfus, the French captain, who was wrongly convicted of passing military secrets to Germany).
The Japanese people deserve better than a “rigged” justice system, Ghosn says, adding that he has been treated like a “terrorist”. Q: It means are you a victim?
Reuters: Have Lebanon promised that you won’t be extradited back to Japan? Yes I am, says Ghosn firmly. He says that several law professors say they cannot understand why he was arrested, especially as some of the alleged financial misconduct refers to money that wasn’t even paid out.
Ghosn says he doesn’t have such a pledge, but adds: Q: What were your emotions during your escape?
That’s a reminder that there isn’t currently an extradition treaty between the two countries. Ghosn says he was numb, from the start of the drama until he met his wife Carole in her parents’ home in the Lebanon.
The BBC’s John Simpson asks Ghosn about his claim of a conspiracy between Nissan and the Japanese government -- how high does it go? Q: Would you recommend a packing case as a mode of travel?
Ghosn says he doesn’t think the top of Japan’s government was involved -- absolving prime minister Shinzo Abe of blame*. Ghosn breaks into a grin, but won’t confirm that rumour that he was smuggled out of Japan in a large box.
He also says he would face the fraud charges outside Japan, if he felt he would get justice Q: Can the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi alliance succeed without you?
* - Bloomberg reported today that Ghosn came within a couple of hours of running into Abe in a Japanese hotel, when he began his escape. Yes, says Ghosn modestly - but it needs to follow some rules.
Did you every propose a full-blown merger between Renault and Nissan? Ghosn says he is ready to answer questions from the French authorities, who last year launched an inquiry into his wealth.
Ghosn denies it, saying he simply proposed a holding company -- but since his arrest, the alliance has gone backwards. Incidentally, the much-pined-after Carole Ghosn is attending today’s press conference, supporting her man.
Ghosn says his lawyers believe they can fight the Interpol Red Notice. Associated Press asks Ghosn what triggered his decision to escape Japan.
CNN: Haven’t you just swapped a small cell in Japan for a large one in Lebanon? Ghosn says there were two factors. First, the Tokyo prosecutor kept postponing his trial, saying it wouldn’t begin until 2021.
Ghosn says he isn’t unhappy in Lebanon, but he is going to fight. Second, he missed his wife Carole, telling reporters that:
The Wall Street Journal asks Ghosn what he plans to do, now he’s a fugitive from justice. How sweet. And yet, how rude!
I am “used to Mission Impossible”, he replies, citing his long career in the auto industry. Channel Four asks Ghosn about the damage to his reputation:
Q: Won’t people say that ‘if a man escapes from a trial in a box there’s no smoke without fire’?
Ghosn won’t be lured into confirming the details of his escape. He says many lies have been told about him, and repeats that he wants a fair trial over the claims of financial misconduct.
Ghosn has reiterated that he had talked to Fiat-Chrysler about a possible merger with Renault, but the deal floundered after his arrest (allowing Peugeot to swoop in instead).
Curiously, Ghosn denies that he resigned from Renault, saying such reports are a “travesty”.
That’s odd, as France’s finance minister Bruno Le Maire announced a year ago that Ghosn had quit as Renault’s chairman and CEO.
Renault also announced that he had resigned both roles, but remained as a director.