The former boss of Renault-Nissan fled Japan in conditions that seem incredible.
It is a private company that orchestrated the escape of Carlos Ghosn and allowed him to escape the close surveillance of the Japanese authorities, two members of his entourage told Reuters on Wednesday.
Assigned to residence since April in a building located in Tokyo, the former leader of Renault-Nissan managed to leave Japanese territory and join Lebanon, country of which he holds the nationality and which has no convention extradition with Japan.
Hosted by President Michel Aoun
According to one of the Reuters sources, Carlos Ghosn was received upon his arrival in Lebanon by President Michel Aoun who warmly welcomed him at the palace of Baabda, his official residence.
Some Lebanese media have suggested that Carlos Ghosn had hidden in a trunk theoretically intended to transport musical instruments, a version that his wife denied to Reuters while refusing to reveal the details of this incredible flight.
The statements of the two sources of Reuters tend to demonstrate that the former leader has thoroughly matured his escape plan with the support of a private security company which exfiltrated him from Japan by a private flight to Istanbul from where he then went to Lebanon.
Even the pilot ignored his presence
“This is a very professional operation, from start to finish,” said one of the Reuters sources, adding that the same pilot who flew the aircraft was unaware of its presence on board.
In a brief statement released on Tuesday, Carlos Ghosn justified his flight by the treatment he was given and denounced “partial” justice.
The Beirut authorities announced that he had entered Lebanese territory legally, carrying his French passport and his Lebanese identity card, an announcement which raises questions since Carlos Ghosn is supposed to have handed over his three passports (French , Lebanese and Brazilian) to his lawyers.
Financial embezzlement when he was CEO of Nissan
He was arrested in Japan in November 2018 on charges of financial embezzlement when he was CEO of Nissan, charges he has always denied. His trial is scheduled for 2020. Carlos Ghosn was released last March in exchange for bail of one billion yen (about 7.9 million euros) before being arrested again by Japanese justice then placed under house arrest in April with a ban on leaving the country.
At Japan, it’s a feeling of amazement that dominates up to the ranks of the team of lawyers who defended him and this leak could have repercussions on the judicial system, estimate several specialists. “Legal professionals and members of the legislature must think quickly about new measures to prevent such leaks from happening again,” said Yasuyuki Takai, a former prosecutor.
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