Japan’s Justice Minister brands Ghosn’s claims against the legal system as baseless

Japan’s minister for Justice, Masako Mori, issued a powerful statement on Thursday that publicly rebutted the world-renowned business entity, Carlos Ghosn. The former executive of Nissan and the genius behind Nissan and Renault SA alliance, Carlos Ghosn, had previously blamed the Japanese legal system to be unfair in a justification for his illegal escape from Japan to Lebanon that branded him as a fugitive.

Japan’s Justice Minister, Masako Mori, Defends The Legal System In A News Conference

Following Ghosn’s arrest on charges of financial misconduct, he escaped to Lebanon last month and made his first public statement on Wednesday. Ghosn claimed that he was treated “brutally” by the prosecutors in Tokyo and was not allowed to have a lawyer in the room while he was interrogated for 8 hours straight every day. He further added that the interrogation was directed at forcing him to confess for the crimes that he didn’t commit.

While Ghosn’s statement was aimed at gaining public support, it was immediately thwarted by Minister Mori as she defended Japan’s legal system in two news conferences, one at midnight on Wednesday and the second early Thursday morning at 9.30 AM.

“I decided to do this because defendant Ghosn was looking to justify his unlawful exit from Japan by propagating a false recognition of our justice system. I felt that we needed to respond immediately to broadcast a correct understanding to people around the world.”

The minister’s speech was translated and broadcasted in English and French as well. She further added in her speech that Ghosn has escaped trial on charges of concealing the company’s true earnings from the authorities and misusing the company’s funds, that according to the minister, is sufficient to be considered a crime in any country.

Minister Mori Says Illegally Escaping Trial Is A Crime In Itself

Minister Mori highlighted that Ghosn’s claims were not supported by any substantial evidence. As a good citizen and a world-class businessman, Ghosn should return to Japan, face a fair trial, and strive to prove his innocence to the world in a legal manner.

The minister also highlighted the Ghosn’s violation of international rules as he escaped the country without a legal passport.

Mori will be hosting the United Nations’ Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice later in April. The congress is scheduled once in five years.

In Japan, the legal system disables the authorities from arresting a suspect without substantial evidence. Once the evidence is thoroughly evaluated by the judge, then only does a legal court issue an arrest warrant against the suspect. Ghosn’s claims of injustice in Japan, therefore, as per Mori, was entirely baseless.