Tiger sniffs: Reality is often more exciting than movies. Just on New Year’s Eve, Carlos Ghosn, former CEO of Nissan, staged a performance in Japan Under the eyes of the Japanese prosecutor, the real version of “Prison Break” was hidden in a musical instrument box and successfully exited the country. Ghosn and the Japanese prosecutors will continue to pull on whether he violates the financial law, but this operation really caught the Japanese side by surprise.

This article To” Daily Economic News “, reporter: Cai Ding, editor: Zheng Zhi, Du Bo.

On December 31, people all over the world are immersed in the atmosphere of New Year’s Eve, and many people in Japan are also waiting for a red and white song festival called “Japanese Spring Festival Evening”.

However, a shocking news came yesterday that shocked the global auto industry and lost the face of Japanese law enforcement agencies.

Carlos Ghosn, a former Nissan CEO who was previously arrested by the Japanese police, has now absconded and successfully arrived in his hometown in Lebanon!

Image source: Twitter

“It depends on the news to know that the prisoner has run away!”

The “New Year’s Escape” staged by Ghosn has exposed Japan ’s Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, customs and prosecutors to overwhelming accusations from the public, not even Ghosn ’s own defense lawyers knew this. On the other hand, Lebanon, the motherland, opened its arms and welcomed the return of the country’s business legend.

Because there is no extradition agreement between Japan and Lebanon, foreign media generally analyze that Ghosn will no longer be forced to return to Japan. This means that Ghosn’s bail of up to 1.5 billion yen (about RMB 97 million) will be confiscated.

But Ghosn shouldn’t mind it. One of his family members told AFP that

“He is home, he is very happy, he is finally free.”

Escape in hiding instrument box

The case of former Nissan CEO Ghosn accused of violating Japanese financial law has been silent for some time. According to the schedule, the case will be heard in 2020. According to a Japanese defense lawyer, he met with Ghosn on Christmas Day (December 25) to discuss contingency plans for the trial.

Lebanese media reports

In November 2018, Ghosn was arrested by the Japanese police.The Tokyo detention center was held for 108 days. On March 6, 2019, the Japanese prosecutor ruled that Ghosn was released from prison for a bail of 1 billion yen, and the high bail made the Japanese public opinion at that time. Although Ghosn was arrested again, he was released on bail on April 25, 2019 and restricted from leaving the country.

Although Ghosn has been successfully released on bail, his residence in Japan is still closely guarded by police. As a result, Ghosn’s Japanese defense lawyer believes that the absconding operation requires “a large-scale organizational cooperation.”

According to local TV station MTV, Ghosn fled Japan after hiding in an oversized instrument box after a Christmas band visited his home.

Gorn’s hiding diagram

El Neshra, another Lebanese website, reports that Ghosn was helped by a Western security company. French newspaper Le Monde quoted anonymous sources as saying Ghosn’s wife relied on her brother’s connections in Turkey to help arrange the escape.

In addition, photos from local media in Beirut (Lebanon’s capital) show that Lebanese internal security forces are closely protecting a luxurious house, and court documents indicate that the house belongs to Ghosn.

These reports have not yet been officially confirmed by the Japanese and Lebanese governments.

Japan Customs also launched an emergency investigation after the incident, but did not find Ghosn’s exit records, so he suspects Ghosn may leave using a pseudonym and a fake passport. A source from the Lebanese government confirmed to NHK that “Ghosn entered Lebanon under another name, not Carlos Ghosn’s identity.”

Gorn with a blue hat

According to the New York Times, Ghosn has used a pseudonym or disguise to get away many times. For example, in order to leave the detention center as soon as possible, Ghosn slipped out of the building wearing a uniform of a cleaner.

The news is confusing, and the Japanese prosecutor is “faceless”

“I am in Lebanon, but not absconding, but to avoid the persecution of Japanese politics and justice.”

At noon on December 31, Ghosn issued a statement that once again wiped the face of Japan.

“I will no longer be held hostage in a manipulative Japanese judicial system where presumption of guilt, rampant discrimination, deprivation of basic human rights, and blatant disregard of Japan’s legal obligations and international law treaties.” >

Media reports said that Ghosn will hold a press conference in Lebanon in the next few days.

“It just makes people run away. Is the Japanese government sleeping?” “It ’s surprising to say that the prosecutors are surprised. I am scared! Isn’t this the duty of the Japanese prosecutors?” …

After news of Ghosn’s escape, Japanese media have accused the government of being careless. While Ghosn was able to escape easily, it also reflected the loopholes in Japan’s immigration management, which made some people suspicious.consider.

Gorn’s portrait in court

The news of Ghosn’s flight was first reported by the Lebanese Arabic newspaper “Republic” on the 30th, but sources in the “Republic” are also unclear how Ghosn could leave Japan, and even questioned Ghosn’s departure. Whether the country has obtained official permission from the Japanese government. Another Lebanese French-language newspaper, the Oriental Daily, subsequently confirmed the news, followed by international media such as the French Echo, the Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal. The Japanese government, as a party, did not know that Ghosn had fled until 6 am on the 31st.

Even after Ghosn issued a statement himself, the Japanese prosecution authorities remained confused. Nikkei quoted prosecutors as saying that “the actual situation is being confirmed.” Other officials said, “I have strongly opposed the court’s decision to bail him.” A defense lawyer for Ghosn said on the 31st that Ghosn’s departure from Japan was “a clear thunderbolt”. I didn’t know until I saw the report.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan told NHK that if it is confirmed that Ghosn has left the country, it is deemed to be “fleeing on bail” and will coordinate with the Lebanese government through diplomatic channels.

Prominent in Lebanon

Aboriginal Lebanese, born in Brazil, educated in France, speaks four languages ​​… Carlos Ghosn’s career is full of legends.

Ghosn Image Source: Visual China

Nissan faced severe losses in 1999. Ghosn negotiated the acquisition of Nissan on behalf of Renault, and finally completed the alliance of the “Renault-Nissan Alliance” by exchanging shares. After joining Nissan, Ghosn launched the “Nissan Revival Plan”, relying on substantial layoffs, reducing procurement costs, closing factories, and other measures. It took only two years for Nissan to turn a profit and become a global transformation for Japanese companies. Classic Case.

However, in 2018, Ghosn suddenly became a prisoner from the “Nissan Saviour”.

According to documents after Ghosn’s arrest, the Tokyo District Court held that Ghosn had severely violated the trust while serving as the chairman of Nissan. In addition, he also faced misreporting income and transferring personal property losses to Nissan. Allegations, but Ghosn denied all four Japanese prosecution charges.

But in his hometown in Lebanon, Ghosn always has a very high status. The Lebanese government has honored the business giant for years, and in 2017 issued a stamp with Ghosn’s head. Some Lebanese people even want Ghosn to run for president, and Ghosn has said in his hometown speech that the Lebanese government can learn from his case of restructuring Nissan’s car debt.

“As Lebanese, we tend to support the people of this small country because this country has experienced so many wars and difficult crises,” said a media editor in Lebanon.

After Ghosn’s arrest in 2018, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry publicly stated: “Carlos Ghosn is a famous Lebanese citizen who represents the success story of Lebanon overseas. In this severe test, Lebanese diplomacy The ministry will be on his side to ensure he gets a fair trial. “

Gorn’s Billboard

In December 2018, a Lebanese advertiser erected 18 billboards in the capital Beirut with the slogan “We are all Ghosn” expressing support.

The Lebanese Interior Minister Machinok made a tough announcement:

“A Lebanese phoenix will not be burnt by the Japanese sun.”