Lebanon issues travel ban for Ghosn

The travel ban is hardly a punishment, more like a protection.

He will probably face some kind of punishment, but I 100% understand his feeling. You have to live in Japan to connect to it. He would rather face punishment abroad than anything in Japan. Carlos is feeling free and normal now, and bringing the pain to the bullies.

Oh no, a travel ban! Because that worked so well before...

It is possible the Lebanese courts will acquit Ghosn of the charges against him in Japan. Better buy a carton of popcorn. This is gonna be a long and interesting saga.

The prosecutors also formally asked Japanese authorities for their file on the charges against Ghosn in order to review the case.

Yes, Japan. Support your bold claims. Turn over the evidence. They won’t.

Well played Japan. Your "justice" is even worse than one in the Middle East, a region not exactly known for lovely prisons and police with kid gloves!

A travel ban means no travel to Japan then? Great!

Their justice minister has already said they will not extradite him.

Lebanon has no intention of turning former auto executive-turned fugitive Carlos Ghosn over to Japanese authorities, Lebanese Justice Minister Albert Serhan told the Mainichi Shimbun on Jan. 3.

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20200104/p2a/00m/0na/005000c

In an interview Thurssday with LBC TV, Ghosn said his case highlighted the thousands of unfair trials in Japan. “It has become now my duty to defend all those people to change this regime that the Japanese are hiding and they claim is a democracy,” he said.

This is the best news out of all of this. Good luck to him!

Totally predictable, once you have an Interpol notice out, it is too risky to travel anywhere.

Ghosn probably knew that and must have taken it into account while escaping. He will spend out his final years in Lebanon.

Wonder if Carole will be able to travel.

The prosecutors also formally asked Japanese authorities for their file on the charges against Ghosn in order to review the case,

let’s see what is coughed up shall we.......

You cant make a mockery of any justice system, anywhere, or they loose credibility, and that invites all kinds of problems. Its not so much about Ghosn now, its about their credibility. Ghosn knows this, its that just he is willing to take the risk in Lebanon. Cant blame him at all. He was right about the Judge; in Japan, the police sometimes are the judge, prosecutor and law enforcement...all in one. Thats why many cases never make it to the top; the lower echelons have lots of discretion on what moves and what doesnt. The top just manage, kind of hands off. In this case the judge just let the underlings play.

I wonder what will happen to the American who helped him escape?

I think Japan will stop giving ODA, a nice big "Aid Package", to Lebanon.

so instead of fixing the draconian judicial system well just bride Lebanon to hand over Ghson so he can face trial in their draconian judicial system, yep that'll help their case until it doesn't. LoL

Ghosn then added that he is “a lot more” confident in Lebanon's judicial system than Japan's.

OUCH!! More egg on face..

It is possible the Lebanese courts will acquit Ghosn of the charges against him in Japan. Better buy a carton of popcorn. This is gonna be a long and interesting saga.

Yup

The travel ban is hardly a punishment, more like a protection.

Agree.

Well now the question then becomes will Japan hand over the other passports they seized from Ghosn to the Lebanese authorities?

“It has become now my duty to defend all those people to change this regime that the Japanese are hiding and they claim is a democracy,” he said.

If the Japanese can see this saga as an opportunity to better society, Ghosn’s suffering will have become well worth it. It has become Ghosn versus the Prosecution but it is the introduction of the concept of due process in Japan.

. Carlos is feeling free and normal now, and bringing the pain to the bullies

About damn time. Next few weeks should be glorious. The panic from the minister that included the freudian slip about coming back and proving innocence goes to show the panic mode the establishment is in. The days of abuse of law going unnoticed are now a thing of the past.

Is this supposed to be good news for Japan or bad news for Ghosn. Ghosn clearly understood the risks involved in escaping and clearly knows he may well spend his time in Lebanon. After all, rich men can live anywhere and still enjoy luxury. The only thing he will miss is meeting his business associates but again that can be solved by them travelling to Lebanon which Lebanon as a country will welcome because it inures to their benefit. The country may be looking up to him to use his network to bring in investments. The internet can also ease his communications with his associates. He has nothing to loose really except that fugitive tag on him which he must do everything to clear.

Over to Japan to cooperate if they have watertight evidence against him. When the evidence is solid, you can win your case anywhere in this world. I hope finality is brought to bear on this issue as quickly as possible.

@AviBajaj

all japan has to do is stop aid to lebanon just pay one year aid to mujahideen n ghosn walk till Japans prison

Wrong assumption.

There is no record of Japan aid to Lebanon since 2013, which was only USD 7.5million, possibly Ghosn's charities and Ghosn related investments are ten times more than Japan to Lebanon.

Do you think maybe, all of a sudden, the Japanese Government might be thinking about a nice big "Aid Package", for Lebanon?

I think Japan will stop giving ODA, a nice big "Aid Package", to Lebanon.

You might want to check the Gaimusho data on ODA to Lebanon.

Japan hasn't exactly been showering Lebanon with money.

This ban from travelling is another slam in the face of Japan.

Appreciated

Well played Lebanon!

Here's reality, I have been in Japan for over 17rs and as long as you do not break the law, no harm to you and even foreigners live in harmony. Don't break the laws that's it and all these feelings don't exist. If you do break the law, then pay the price. 

In a vacuum, this is a correct statement, and how foreigners need to adhere to laws.

But outside the reasoning of not breaking the law, if everyone is obedient, what it leads to is loss of self expression and individualism. It's probably why hikikomi is such an issue, as well...you can't get into trouble if you don't leave your dwelling.

In essence, people have to take some chances and do things that stretch the limits. In Japan, people are encouraged to stay within the circle and work from there, not daring to go outside that circle. It all is part of the culture of obedience and while I understand why you have written what you did, it does hinder the mind to declare obedience and always follow the rules, leading to the salary man type lemming behavior and inability to think for oneself that many foreigners find difficult.

Ultimately, this trait of the Japanese is one of the main reasons people in Japan do not find the justice system a problem, nor challenge it. They believe anyone who is arrested is guilty, and if they were good, law abiding people, they wouldn't have gotten arrested, in the first place. No mistakes people lead to rather dull people, imo. But if they do wrong, they should get a fair trial.

Theo Japanese should be very cautious about handing over sensitive info.

and you have just proved Ghosn point right there, in a proper judicial system the prosecutors have to show all the evidence/documentation they have against the accused so the defense can prepare a defence, that's how a fair judicial system works

They believe anyone who is arrested is guilty, and if they were good, law abiding people, they wouldn't have gotten arrested, in the first place. No mistakes people lead to rather dull people, imo

Usually when it hits these law abiding people it could be in a way they won't expect, for example being detained because their business associates or coworker done something bad. 

Since having connection along with those people can give enough reason for authorities to detain you for further check. Of course this can lead up tp 23 days even more, depending on how many charge they bring to you. Only by this time they will understand how justice system in Japan really works.

Also Japanese media hardly bring this issue, even after Ghosn escape Japanese media only focus on how he can get away, box he used and route he used to escape. Some Japanese media of course give coverage about Japanese justice system but not all of them.

At least yesterday 無罪証明 (Innocence proof) became trending topic in Twitter after Minister of Justice made controversial remark that can be translated "Ghosn should prove his innocence". Not the opposite that common one in most democratic country which is innocence until proven guilty.

I think Japan will stop giving ODA, a nice big "Aid Package", to Lebanon.

This ODA thing is highly overrated!! Japan gives ODA to my country too, with LOTS of fanfare, but , they slink away container loads of money. They should know that we know!!

That 7.5 million from Nissans money to hide for times when he gets caught great idea ghosn

You are too optimistic, unless you mean to say a system that may not exist.

what are you talking about , in my country , and almost all other 1st world democratic nations, their judicial rules state that all the evidence/documentation that the prosecutors have need to be viewed by the defense also, how is the defence able to prepare their defence if they don't even know what all the accusation or proof the prosecutors have.

Access to evidence held by the police and the prosecution may often be significantly restricted. 

well depending which state it can also work against the prosecutors / police if the judge rules their practices unconstitutional or illegal.

In Japan well that dont even have to worry about that they just restrict it all, keep you in detention indefinitely , restrict access to your family , dont let you have a lawyer present , interrogate you as a form of torture, restrict your preparation substantially while the prosecutors can prepare for years if they have to.

Now can you really state on here with a straight face that Japanese justice is fare LMFAO. and no "this is Japan" isnt an excuse for basic human rights abuses.

> “It has become now my duty to defend all those people to change this regime that the Japanese are hiding and they claim is a democracy,” he said.

This, is the clincher for me. Expose the sham democracy.

What can Lebanon do better than Japan did to stop this multi-gazillion-aire from disappearing to another safe haven? Money talks, BS walks.

That $300 / week limit only applies to the poor. The rich, especially in Lebanon, are well cashed up.

If he was judt fleeing Japanese justice, who can think on Earth he would spend his time and efforts to discuss what he went through, and say he will stand for Japanese and foreigners who can't.

And say he would accept a fair trial anywhere.

Japan could propose a trial in a fair country (USA or France or Swiss ?) but we all know Japanese MOJ will never accept because corrupted case. I wish I would be wrong.

He would sip a coconut punch on a cozy beach and laugh in parties on yacht if otherwise.

He is a special guy for sure, and no criminal.

No one listens to the fugitive's excuses to distract people's attention from his misconducts.

No one? I guess you haven't read any of the other comments.

Ghosn has said he would be willing to use his expertise to help Lebanon if asked, but he does not want a position or to get into politics.

Such as by shutting down government departments and laying off 21,000 civil servants?

A Lollipop.

@ He will probably face some kind of punishment, but I 100% understand his feeling. You have to live in Japan to connect to it. He would rather face punishment abroad than anything in Japan. They way things work in Japan against the foreigner is that your guilty by default. You are not Japanese therefore you are guilty. You feel cornered, betrayed, fear, and all these gas lighting techniques are part of the game to blame you, for you to submit. Carlos is feeling free and normal now, and bringing the pain to the bullies.

Here's reality, I have been in Japan for over 17rs and as long as you do not break the law, no harm to you and even foreigners live in harmony. Don't break the laws that's it and all these feelings don't exist. If you do break the law, then pay the price. Everyone else in Japan does unless your super rich that is, in this case your ordinary.

It seems to me Ghosn better find and have a fair trial somewhere (in neutral country) that judges him guilty or innocent, otherwise he is a fugitive forever. If his all passports are expired, he can't go overseas any more. Lebanese govt better negotiate with Japanese govt about the trial that can be held in neutral country.

This is becoming a joke for sure.

Japans justice system is ridiculous we know that, Ghosn thinks he can get to be tried in Lebanon, he cant ravel, is offered a job working for the govt that is riddled with corruption and waste, and Leading Lebanese politician Walid Jumblatt, in a Twitter post on Thursday, proposed Ghosn as minister of energy - a state-run sector which bleeds public funds while failing to meet Lebanon's power needs.

That job would suit ghosn he could funnel more money to his self.

the ex-Nissan boss can only get a few hundred dollars a week from the bank...$250 or $300 a week

Then how does he pay the rent of the house that he claimed was owned by Nissan ?

“According to the official, Ghosn was also interrogated on a separate report against him over a 2008 visit to Israel. Lebanon and Israel are technically at war. No decision was taken regarding this case, which according to Lebanese law can be punishable between one and 10 years in jail.”

the Fugitive gets away with anything including the punishable crime he did in Israel in 2008.

slippery slime bag

@wtfjapan Today 11:52 am JST

and you have just proved Ghosn point right there, in a proper judicial system the prosecutors have to show all the evidence/documentation they have against the accused so the defense can prepare a defence, that's how a fair judicial system works

You are too optimistic, unless you mean to say a system that may not exist. Consider:

https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/reports/2007/10/01/issue-brief-expanded-discovery-in-criminal-cases

In criminal cases in most states, however, discovery is much narrower. Access to evidence held by the police and the prosecution may often be significantly restricted. Discovery in criminal cases often does not include information on witnesses, police reports, or mitigating and aggravating evidence, all of which could affect the outcome of a trial, as well as lessen or increase the sentence imposed after a conviction.

That's the reality.

The issue is that now Ghosn wil never get a fair trial. The Japanese case was heavily biased against him and the Lebanese case would be heavily biased in his favor.

In essence, people have to take some chances and do things that stretch the limits. In Japan, people are encouraged to stay within the circle and work from there, not daring to go outside that circle. It all is part of the culture of obedience and while I understand why you have written what you did, it does hinder the mind to declare obedience and always follow the rules, leading to the salary man type lemming behavior and inability to think for oneself that many foreigners find difficult.

Ultimately, this trait of the Japanese is one of the main reasons people in Japan do not find the justice system a problem, nor challenge it. They believe anyone who is arrested is guilty, and if they were good, law abiding people, they wouldn't have gotten arrested, in the first place. No mistakes people lead to rather dull people, imo. But if they do wrong, they should get a fair trial.

It is criminal justice we all are talking about. You don't want to take some chances, nor to go outside that circle , taking risks to commit a crime. Common sense, that doesn't make you obedient at all.

all japan has to do is stop aid to lebanon just pay one year aid to mujahideen n ghosn walk till Japans prison

He would be better off inj France, which doesn't extradite its citizens.

Lebanon gets aid from Japan (anyone see quid pro quo coming??) and is widely considered to be a pretty corrupt place.  Japan has enough spare cash sloshing around tom incentivize them to the tune of a few hundred billion yen.

Ghosn is ghosn to regret doing a runner.

Do you think maybe, all of a sudden, the Japanese Government might be thinking about a nice big "Aid Package", for Lebanon?

I think Japan will stop giving ODA, a nice big "Aid Package", to Lebanon.

Ghosn plotting to use Lebanon to obtain info from the Japanese. Move on nothing to see here, unless you fall for Ghosn's trap. Theo Japanese should be very cautious about handing over sensitive info.

After all, Ghosn abandoned eveything in France and Japan. I sympathize with the state of his detention. However, he should have contented with prosecutors in Japan. No one listens to the fugitive's excuses to distract people's attention from his misconducts.