Former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn slams Japan justice

Former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn blasted Japan’s legal system and denounced his arrest during a press conference in Lebanon after fleeing Japan where he was awaiting trial on charges of alleged financial misconduct.

It’s his first major public appearance since leaving Japan in a fashion likened to a movie plot, EVtalk reports, but Ghosn says he didn’t want to discuss that but to clear his name and explain why he “never should have been arrested in the first place”.

He claims the arrest is part of a plot to remove him as head of the world’s most powerful auto alliance (Nissan, Renault and Mitsubishi).

“I did not escape justice. I fled injustice,” he told reporters in Beirut, CNN

reports.

Ghosn has repeatedly denied the charges against him, and criticised Japan’s judicial system.

Tokyo prosecutors say Ghosn “has only himself to blame for being arrested and detained.”

Japanese justice minister Masako Mori says Ghosn “has been propagating both within Japan and internationally false information on Japan’s legal system and its practice”.

Ghosn says his lawyers told him he could be held in Japan for five years before getting a ruling, and he became convinced he would die there if he did not jump bail.

Nissan says it will still pursue “appropriate legal action” against Ghosn.

Ghosn avoided questions about his escape from Japan.

Interpol wants Ghosn and Japanese prosecutors have also issued an arrest warrant for his wife, Carole Ghosn, who was at the Beirut press conference.

Carlos Ghosn has indicated he may be open to a trial outside Japan.