Justice in France has issued an international arrest warrant against Carlos Ghosn, the former CEO of car manufacturers Renault and Nissan. He has been under investigation for several years for money laundering, corruption and the embezzlement of millions from Renault and Nissan, who work closely together.
Ghosn fled from Tokyo to Lebanon in 2019. He had been arrested in Japan and was allowed to await his trial in freedom, on the condition that he would not leave the country. He managed to hide in a coffin and fled to Istanbul on a private jet.
He then continued his journey to the Lebanese capital Beirut, where he lives today. In that country he teaches, among other things, at a private Catholic university.
Surprise
A lawyer for 68-year-old Ghosn calls the arrest warrant “very surprising”. “Ghosn has always cooperated with the French authorities.”
The chance that Ghosn will actually come to France is not great. Ghosn has a French, Lebanese and Brazilian passport and Lebanon in principle does not extradite its own citizens. Moreover, he is not allowed to leave Lebanon.
Unfair process
French prosecutors also have the owners of a car importer from Oman in the picture. Justice says it is particularly interested in payments between Renault, Nissan, Mitsubishi and the Omanese importer, with a value of 15 million euros. The money would have been used, among other things, to purchase a yacht.
Ghosn denies committing any criminal offences. He said he fled fearing an unfair trial in Japan. He previously demanded 10 million euros in compensation from Nissan, but the court in Amsterdam has that demand last year rejected.
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