The former chairman of Nissan, Carlos Ghosn, has somehow fled Japan and taken refuge in Lebanon, The New York Times reports.
Ghosn had been held in Japan since his arrest in November 2018 and was awaiting trial in April 2020 on charges of financial misconduct while he was the head of Nissan. Ghosn was released after posting $9 million bail earlier in the year but he was being closely watched by authorities and had to agree to a number of strict conditions, including surrendering his passport. He also had no access to the internet or email and was told he must reside in Tokyo.
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Lebanese newspaper Al-Joumhouriya claims that Ghosn landed in Beirut on a private jet from Turkey. It remains to be seen just how the former industry executive was able to leave Japan. A person with knowledge close to the matter asserts Ghosn is with his wife Carole at his home with armed guards outside.
Ghosn is a Lebanese citizen and the nation does not have an extradition treaty with Japan meaning it is unlikely he will be forced to return to Japan. He also has strong public support across the country.
Representatives from Japanese prosecutors, Lebanese embassies in Tokyo and Washington, nor those from Nissan have commented.
At this early stage, it is unclear if Ghosn escaped Japan or if he reached a deal with prosecutors. One unidentified person told The Wall Street Journal that Ghosn didn’t believe he would get a fair trial in Japan and was “tired of being an industrial political hostage.”
Ghosn had been indicted on four counts in Japan; two of which are charges of failing to disclose tens of millions of dollars in deferred compensation while the other two counts are breach of trust charges accusing the 65-year-old of diverting company money for personal gain. Ghosn denies all charges and faces 15-years in prison.
