Interpol has issued a wanted notice for former Nissan executive Carlos Ghosn after it was revealed that he had jumped bail in Japan and fled to Lebanon.
The Associated Press reports that the Interpol-issued Red Notice is a non-binding request to law enforcement agencies worldwide that they locate and provisionally arrest a fugitive. However, the Red Notice isn’t an arrest warrant and Lebanon is not required to arrest Ghosn.
While recently speaking with the media, Lebanese justice minister Albert Serhan said Lebanon “will carry out its duties” in the case. However, Serhan confirmed that Ghosn entered the country on a legal passport and seemed to suggest the nation is unlikely to hand Ghosn over to Japan.
Ghosn arrived in Lebanon on Monday after passing through Turkey on a private jet. Turkey revealed that it made a series of arrests on Thursday as part of an investigation into how Ghosn was able to so easily pass through the country.
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In a recent statement, Ghosn denied reports that his family helped him flee from Japan.
“The allegations in the media that my wife Carole and other members of my family played a role in my departure from Japan are false and misleading. I alone organized my departure. My family played no role,” he said.
Ghosn holds Lebanese, French, and Brazilian passports and as part of his bail conditions in Japan, was forced to surrender his passports to his legal team. How he escaped Japan remains a mystery, although Lebanese authorities claim he entered the country on a French passport.
“Mr. Ghosn arrived to Lebanon as any ordinary citizen. … Lebanese authorities have no security or judiciary charges against him. He entered the border like any other Lebanese using a legal passport,” Serhan said.
