Defiant ex-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn hits back against Japanese ‘plot’
- Fugitive car magnate maintains his innocence and vows to clear his name, in first press conference since skipping bail
- Ghosn argues charges against him stem from a ‘coup’ inside Nissan over his plans to more closely integrate company Renault
Fugitive auto tycoon Carlos Ghosn on Wednesday accused Nissan and Japanese prosecutors of plotting against him as he staged an impassioned defence at his first public appearance since fleeing the country.
In a combative news conference in Beirut, the former Renault-Nissan boss – one of the world’s most high-profile corporate executives – slammed the financial misconduct charges he faced in Japan as “baseless”.
Late on Wednesday, a Lebanese prosecutor summoned Ghosn for questioning on Thursday, principally on the basis of an Interpol “red notice”.
Ghosn would also be asked to respond to a report submitted by Lebanese lawyers detailing his travel to neighbouring Israel as head of Renault-Nissan, the National News Agency said. Lebanon is still technically at war with Israel.
“The collusion between Nissan and prosecutors is everywhere,” Ghosn told a large crowd of journalists at an appearance that lasted more than two hours during which he fielded questions in English, French, Arabic and Portuguese.
“There was no way I was going to be treated fairly … this was not about justice. I felt I was a hostage of the country that I have served for 17 years,” he said.