Former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn, who was arrested in Japan for financial misconduct in November, had escaped from the country on December 31. The former executive, who faces charges of hiding income and enriching himself through payments to dealerships in the Middle East.
Ghosn who was released on bail, says he got out of the country to escape its 'rigged' judicial system. The system allows suspects to be detained for long periods and prohibits defence lawyers from being present during interrogations that can last eight hours a day.
According to the latest reports, Ghosn, who holds a Brazilian and two French passports is believed to have escaped the country using one of his French passports'.
Rumours were afloat that Ghosn hid in the case of a large musical instrument, shortly after a band performed at his home.
According to another report, he first flew to Turkey and then went to Lebanon. Substantial proof for either of the rumours is not available.
However, Ghosn has once, disguised as a construction worker while leaving prison to throw journalists off his scent.
Ghosn's lawyers have said that the court allowed him to keep one French passport on him as he needed it to travel within Japan and prove his short-stay status.
Authorities have raided his Tokyo home, hoping to make use of security camera footage that may give them some clue as to how he managed to give authorities the slip and leave the country. He is believed to have used a private jet to fly from Kansai Airport in western Japan.
Since Japan has no extradition treaty with Lebanon, Beirut might refuse to hand Ghosn over, even if Japan makes a request.
His wife, Carole Ghosn, who maintains that her husband is innocent, wants to be reunited with him. Some sections of the Japanese media sympathised with Ghosn, the man credited with rescuing Nissan from near-bankruptcy, while some were united in condemning the auto executive.
Nissan sacked Ghosn in 2018 after internal investigations revealed misconduct like understating his salary while he was its chief executive, and transferring $5 million of Nissan funds to an account in which he had an interest.
Ghosn, the son of Lebanese immigrants in Brazil, studied at the prestigious École Polytechnique in Paris before joining French tyre manufacturer Michelin. From there, he was poached by Renault in 1996. He then joined Nissan in 1999 and bought 43.4 per cent stake, cementing his place in the company. Ghosn not only rescued Nissan from near-bankruptcy but brought Renault and Nissan in an alliance. He also brought Mitsubishi under the Nissan umbrella.
Ghosn may have fallen from grace but has supporters in Lebanon. Beirut, it looks like, views him as a son who has returned home.
