Carlos Ghosn’s story isn’t over yet. In fact, it just took a remarkable turn…
Former Nissan-Renault Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn has spent months in detention in Japan over alleged financial misconduct surrounding his time in charge of Nissan. Ghosn paid an almost $9 million bail last April, but remained under house arrest with a camera watching his home 24/7. He was restricted from traveling and his use of technology was very limited. Then, Ghosn simply vanished.
Ghosn’s Japanese legal team has been left completely stunned, more so when Ghosn then appeared in Lebanon on New Year’s Eve. “We were completely caught by surprise. I am dumbfounded,” Ghosn’s lawyer commented. Ghosn, for his part, has released a statement from Lebanon reading: “I have escaped injustice and political persecution.”
The main question on everyone’s mind is how this all happened, of course. Lebanon’s MTV channel reported that Ghosn had escaped his monitored home in Tokyo with the assistance of forces from a paramilitary group. The forces involved are alleged to have been disguised as musicians during the escape. The “musicians” apparently played music at Ghosn’s home, then hid Ghosn in a large musical instrument case, at which point they smuggled him to a Tokyo airport. Ghosn is 5 foot 6 inches, but such a move would still likely be a very tight fit. MTV reported that Ghosn first flew to Turkey before transferring over to Lebanon.
Seven individuals including four pilots have been arrested over the incident in Turkey. Ghosn had no immigration record of leaving Japan. Turkish border police were never told that Ghosn was aboard the plane.