Fugitive former Nissan boss vows to fight to clear his name
BEIRUT >> Nissan’s fugitive ex-boss Carlos Ghosn made his first public appearance Wednesday since being smuggled out of Japan last week, saying he fled a “nightmare” that would not end and vowed to defend his name wherever he can get a fair trial.
Ghosn spoke to a room packed with journalists for more than two hours in the Lebanese capital, where he arrived after jumping $14 million bail despite supposedly rigorous surveillance — a bold and improbable escape that embarrassed Japanese authorities and has allowed him to evade trial on charges of financial misconduct.
Combative, spirited and at times rambling, he described conditions of detention in Japan that made him feel “dead ... like an animal” in a country where he asserted he had “zero chance” of a fair trial.
“For the first time since this nightmare began, I can defend myself, speak freely and answer your questions,” Ghosn said. “I didn’t run from justice, I left Japan because I wanted justice.”
But he made clear the question most on the minds of the gathered reporters would remain unanswered: An account of the daring international escape that saw him spirited from Japan to Turkey and from there to Beirut.
With big gestures and a five-part slide presentation, Ghosn brought his case to the global media in a performance that at times resembled a corporate presentation. His one thought before fleeing, he said: “You are going to die in Japan or you are going to get out.”
He asserted he was a victim of “persecution” by a rigged Japanese justice system and described the decision to escape as “the most difficult in his life,” even though he said he was used to “mission impossible.”
He said he made up his mind when — aside from denying him evidence, visits from his wife and holding him in solitary confinement for over 130 days— the judges kept postponing his trial. It was set to begin in April, but he was told it would be postponed again.
Ghosn portrayed his arrest in late 2018 as a plot linked to a decline in the financial performance of Nissan Motor Co. as the Japanese automaker resisted losing autonomy to French partner Renault. Ghosn had been in favor of an alliance between Nissan and industry ally Renault, of which he was also chairman. He denied Wednesday he was seeking a full merger.
Japanese Justice Minister Masako Mori denounced Ghosn’s criticism of the nation’s criminal justice system.
She told reporters that his comments were abstracted and unfounded.
She said she wanted to prevent his spreading an “erroneous” understanding abroad about Japan’s system.