A millionaire who fled Japan as he awaited trial on financial misconduct charges is being questioned by investigators in Lebanon.
Carlos Ghosn, who mysteriously turned up in Beirut on New Year’s Eve, was summoned by prosecutors after an Interpol warrant was issued for his arrest.
On Wednesday, the 65-year-old gave a two-and-a-half hour news conference where he emphatically denied the criminal allegations against him.
The former Nissan CEO also claimed that there was a high-level plot to eject him from the company and scupper a planned merger with Renault.
Ghosn was being questioned at the Justice Palace in Beirut, and his Lebanon-based lawyer is yet to comment.
Japan has reacted furiously after Ghosn’s repeated criticism of the country’s legal system. The businessman has claimed he fled Asia because he had “zero chance” of getting a fair trial, and alleged he was treated “brutally” by prosecutors.
On Thursday, prosecutors in Tokyo said Ghosn had “only himself to blame” for his 130-day detention – not to mention strict bail conditions which included a ban from seeing his wife.
“Defendant Ghosn was deemed a high-profile risk, which is obvious from the fact that he actually fled,” they said.
Critics of Japan’s legal system say suspects can be detained in solitary confinement without charge for 23 days – and are often questioned for hours each day without a lawyer present.
Japan also has a conviction rate of more than 99%, which the likes of Ghosn call unfair.
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