Lebanon and Japan will have to figure out in 40 days whether the fugitive former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn will be extradited to Japan or stand trial in Lebanon.
Citing a judicial source and a source close to Ghosn, Reuters reports that Japan triggered the 40-day period when it asked Lebanon to clarify what documents they need to send as part of their official extradition request.
“They came back and requested a clarification. Today, we sent that to the Japanese,” the judicial source said.
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Japan and Lebanon have no extradition agreement, with the latter typically not handing over its nationals. According to Lebanon’s rules, the two sides must reach an agreement within 40 days since the start of their communication.
Japan’s choices are limited to either sending an official extradition request to Lebanon, or send Ghosn’s case to Lebanon and agree on a process for trying him there, according to the source close to Ghosn.
Ghosn fled to Lebanon last month, escaping from Japan where he was awaiting trial accused of financial misconduct, a charge that he vocally denies. He was recently questioned by Lebanese prosecutors who confiscated his passport and imposed a travel ban on him.
The former boss of Renault-Nissan could appeal to drop the travel ban and return his passport if Japan doesn’t respond within the 40 days. Japanese authorities have previously said that they will push for getting Ghosn back in Japan for his trial.