Friday, March 29

Carlos Ghosn says he expects fair trial in France following arrest warrant


Carlos Ghosn, former Nissan chief executive officer, is in an ongoing legal battle amid allegations of financial misconduct.

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Carlos Ghosn has said he would receive a “fair trial” in France after being issued an arrest warrant in the latest of a string of charges brought against the disgraced former auto executive.

Speaking to CNBC Friday in Beirut, Ghosn said he trusted the French justice system to treat him correctly, even if he did not receive the same treatment from the media and wider society.

“I think yes, I can get a fair trial,” he told CNBC’s Hadley Gamble.

“I will not get fair treatment, but I will get a fair trial,” he said, citing the media’s apparently disproportionate coverage of lavish parties and excessive spending during his tenure as an auto CEO.

French authorities on Thursday issued an international arrest warrant for the former Renault-Nissan executive who famously skipped bail in Japan and fled to Lebanon in a box.

The warrant relates to an investigation into allegations of 15 million euros ($16.2 million) in suspicious payments between Renault and an Omani car dealership during Ghosn’s tenure. The allegations involve misappropriation of company assets, corruption and money laundering.

Four others, including current owners or former directors of Suhail Bahwan Automobiles, were also issued with arrest warrants.

It is the latest in a series of accusations brought against the ex-car industry supremo, who was first arrested in Japan in November 2018 and charged with multiple financial misdeeds while running Nissan. Ghosn denies all charges.

‘suspicious’ timing

Ghosn said Friday that he was not surprised by the arrest warrant, describing it as part of the “natural process” for French investigators. However, he said he was surprised to learn about not from authorities but in a newspaper.

“What surprised me is the fact that I learned about it by reading in an American newspaper,” he said, referring to the Wall Street Journal, which broke the news Thursday.

Ghosn added that the timing of the warrant was “suspicious,” given the forthcoming French presidential elections this Sunday. But he said he expects any hearing to be independent, regardless of who wins.

Spokespersons for the French justice ministry and the French government were not immediately available when contacted by CNBC for comment.

“Fortunately in France, justice is somehow independent of the political power, which obviously is not the case in Japan,” he said. Ghosn has repeatedly criticized the Japanese legal system as it continues to pursue him for alleged financial misdemeanors during his time at the helm of Nissan.

Japanese officials, meanwhile, have refuted Ghosn’s claims, defending the country’s justice system as “fair and open.” Japan’s Ministry of Justice published a 3,000-word article in 2020 outlining questions and answers about its treatment of criminals. A spokesperson for the Japanese justice ministry was not immediately available when contacted by CNBC for comment.

Ghosn’s spokesperson said earlier Friday that he would be happy to stand trial in France to clear his name. Still, the feasibility of that remains in doubt.

Ghosn is barred from leaving Lebanon as he is still subject to an extradition request from Japan. Though that request is unlikely to be approved, his passport is currently held by Lebanese authorities.

The Brazil-born auto titan was raised in Beirut and is a citizen of Brazil, France and Lebanon.
As a Lebanese citizen, he’s protected from extradition.


www.cnbc.com

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