Nissan’s ex-chairman flees to Lebanon while on bail pending trial on charges of financial misconduct

Nissan’s ex-chairman, Carlos Ghosn, who was ousted following his arrest on charges of financial misconduct, was reported on Tuesday to be in his childhood home located in Lebanon. In a statement, Ghosn labeled Japan’s justice system as rigged. Being a world-renowned business entity, Ghosn’s departure from Japan, while he was on bail, has raised many questions on the competency of the authorities.

Ghosn Calls Japanese Justice System “Rigged”

Ghosn’s arrest came as quite a shock for the global auto industry and largely damaged Nissan’s alliance with Renault SA. In a comment on Tuesday, 65-year-old Ghosn remarked:

“I am now in Lebanon and will 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.”

Ghosn has pleaded non-guilty against the charges of financial misconduct. In a response on Tuesday, Tokyo officials highlighted that Japan’s justice system doesn’t believe in refusing human rights and that the ex-CEO was confronted with the same treatment as all other suspects.

As per the report, Ghosn currently holds citizenship for Lebanon, Brazil, and France. While on bail, the report adds, he had submitted his passports and was also put under strict surveillance in Japan. Without passports and despite strict surveillance, how did he managed to flee the country still remains a mystery.

Following the news, a senior source from Lebanese foreign ministry commented that Ghosn used his Lebanese ID and French passport to enter Lebanon. He entered the country legally having passed through all of the standard security procedures. The French foreign ministry, however, has refrained from commenting on the news so far.

Ghosn’s Lawyer Says He Is Still In Possession Of All Three Of Ghosn’s Passports

Sources have also informed that Nissan’s ex-CEO took a private jet from Istanbul and landed in Beirut on Monday. It was also announced that Ghosn’s departure from Japan was nowhere in the immigration authorities’ record.

According to Junichiro Hironaka, one of Ghosn’s lawyers, he is still in possession of all three of his passports. Considering that Japan’s extradition treaties are currently only confined to South Korea and the United States of America, experts opinionated that it will be very difficult for the justice system to push Ghosn to return to Japan and face trial.

Reports from Lebanon also highlighted Ghosn’s vast support in the Western Asian country that put up billboards that read “We are all Carlos Ghosn” following the news.