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Ghosn: Decision to flee was hardest of my life | Ghosn: Decision to flee was hardest of my life |
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The fugitive ex-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn has said the decision to flee Japan, where he was charged with financial misconduct, was the most difficult of his life. | The fugitive ex-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn has said the decision to flee Japan, where he was charged with financial misconduct, was the most difficult of his life. |
Speaking at a highly anticipated news conference, Mr Ghosn said his treatment went against international standards of justice. | Speaking at a highly anticipated news conference, Mr Ghosn said his treatment went against international standards of justice. |
He claimed he was left with no other choice but to flee to protect himself and his family. | He claimed he was left with no other choice but to flee to protect himself and his family. |
He described his treatment as "brutal". | He described his treatment as "brutal". |
In prison, Mr Ghosn said he was kept in a cell with a small window and only allowed to shower twice a week. He also spent 130 days in a windowless cell while in solitary confinement, the former executive said said. | In prison, Mr Ghosn said he was kept in a cell with a small window and only allowed to shower twice a week. He also spent 130 days in a windowless cell while in solitary confinement, the former executive said said. |
He described his "feeling of hopelessness" as "profound". | He described his "feeling of hopelessness" as "profound". |
"I was brutally taken from my work as I knew it, ripped from my work, my family and my friends." | "I was brutally taken from my work as I knew it, ripped from my work, my family and my friends." |
'It will get worse' | 'It will get worse' |
He added: "It is impossible to express the depth of that deprivation and my profound appreciation to be able to be reunited with my family and loved ones." | He added: "It is impossible to express the depth of that deprivation and my profound appreciation to be able to be reunited with my family and loved ones." |
"'It will get worse for you if you don't just confess,' the prosecutor told me repeatedly," he said at the news conference. | "'It will get worse for you if you don't just confess,' the prosecutor told me repeatedly," he said at the news conference. |
Despite speculation, he did not give details of his escape in his prepared remarks. | Despite speculation, he did not give details of his escape in his prepared remarks. |
Mr Ghosn's lawyers told him it would be five years before he could expect a judgement, he said. | Mr Ghosn's lawyers told him it would be five years before he could expect a judgement, he said. |
As a result, he said it was not hard to come to the decision that he would either have to "die in Japan or get out". | As a result, he said it was not hard to come to the decision that he would either have to "die in Japan or get out". |
He described himself as a "hostage" of a country that he had served for 17 years as the boss of Nissan. | He described himself as a "hostage" of a country that he had served for 17 years as the boss of Nissan. |
Prosecutors allege that Mr Ghosn 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. | |
But Mr Ghosn insists that he is innocent of all charges made against him. | |
Instead, he says he is the victim of a plot to oust him over concerns about Renault's growing influence over Nissan under his tenure. | |
On Tuesday, Japanese authorities issued a warrant for the arrest of Mr Ghosn's wife Carole, who was accused of giving false testimony. | On Tuesday, Japanese authorities issued a warrant for the arrest of Mr Ghosn's wife Carole, who was accused of giving false testimony. |
The executive described it as "a coincidence" that the warrant was issued the day before the news conference on Wednesday, nine months after the alleged offence was committed. | The executive described it as "a coincidence" that the warrant was issued the day before the news conference on Wednesday, nine months after the alleged offence was committed. |
It is the first time Mr Ghosn has spoken publicly since he fled house arrest in Japan in a daring escape that reportedly involved him being smuggled out of the country in a flight case. | It is the first time Mr Ghosn has spoken publicly since he fled house arrest in Japan in a daring escape that reportedly involved him being smuggled out of the country in a flight case. |
The executive ran car giant Nissan until he was arrested in Japan on charges of financial misconduct - which he denies - in November 2018. | The executive ran car giant Nissan until he was arrested in Japan on charges of financial misconduct - which he denies - in November 2018. |
He was subsequently released on bail and put under house arrest, but he was banned from seeing his wife. | He was subsequently released on bail and put under house arrest, but he was banned from seeing his wife. |
Then, in the final days of 2019, he skipped bail to board a private jet that took him to Turkey before he travelled on to Lebanon, where he is a citizen, and where his wife was waiting. | Then, in the final days of 2019, he skipped bail to board a private jet that took him to Turkey before he travelled on to Lebanon, where he is a citizen, and where his wife was waiting. |
Mr Ghosn has previously insisted that he had organised his escape "alone" and denied reports his wife had helped. | Mr Ghosn has previously insisted that he had organised his escape "alone" and denied reports his wife had helped. |
The Japanese government has described Mr Ghosn's escape as "unjustifiable", while his former employer, Nissan, said it was "extremely regrettable". | The Japanese government has described Mr Ghosn's escape as "unjustifiable", while his former employer, Nissan, said it was "extremely regrettable". |