Carlos Ghosn to speak for first time since Japan escape
BEIRUT: Carlos Ghosn is set to hold a highly anticipated press conference in Lebanon Wednesday, the first by the fugitive car magnate since his Houdini-like escape from trial in Japan.
The globe-trotting mogul, once a giant of the car industry, has given few media statements since he jumped bail and landed in his native Lebanon almost two weeks ago, in the latest shock twist to a gripping saga.
But he plans to use his press conference in Beirut to name those he believes were behind a plot to oust him, including Japanese government officials, a US broadcaster said.
The encounter with the media is scheduled for 3pm at Lebanon’s press syndicate headquarters.
A day in advance, journalists were already gathering outside the building.
Ghosn’s bail jump has prompted outrage from the Japanese government, which has called his escape ‘ unjustifiable’, as well as from Japanese automaker Nissan which labelled the getaway ‘ extremely regrettable’.
Many are expecting Ghosn to disclose details of his audacious flight from Japan to Beirut via Istanbul – a dramatic twist in a story worthy of a Hollywood plot.
According to Japanese media, he slipped out of his house in Tokyo, boarded a bullet train to Osaka and then a private jet to Istanbul, evading customs by hiding in a box, before reaching Beirut on Dec 30.
His current whereabouts in Lebanon remain unknown but reporters have camped outside his luxurious pink villa in central Beirut, where he is believed to be residing.
As Japan grapples with the fall-out from the embarrassing security lapse, prosecutors on Wednesday attempted to raid the offices of one of his lawyers, Junichiro Hironaka, to seize computers.
However, the lawyers refused them access, citing ‘attorneyclient confidentiality.’