Turkey detains 7, including 4 pilots over Ghosn's escape through Istanbul

Its a shame that he can't defend him self via a internet link from the Lebanon, to a Japanese court. he can be asked questions, and paper work can be scanned into a computer so all can see the (alleged) evidence.

I am expecting to reveal how Ghosn got escaped.

He sorta Ghosn'ed.

@smartacus wow, you must’ve read my mind. A bit longer than I would’ve posted, and I have a habit of posting long comments at times, but still very well done. You made a very well reasoned, well detailed argument. And you’re a rationalist as well. We need more people like you, in the US anyway, where I’m from.

and there will be no more foreign aid from Japan to Lebanon

Perhaps for a short period, but things change rapidly in the world. Countries that were once enemies are now allies..Hmm...let me see if I can think of an example. Japan/USA for one.

"Unless Ghosn is returned to Japan to face his trial, the Ambassador from Lebanon will be summoned in Tokyo, and there will be no more foreign aid from Japan to Lebanon."

Inevitable that somebody would propose the Japanese government play the "foreign aid card" to get its way with "low-income" Lebanon. That won't work. First, Lebanon isn't really a low-income country. It has a per capita GDP of nearly US$10,000. I'm sure all of the very successful businesspersons of Lebanese origin who live around the world (in Brazil, in the United States, even in Liberia) send remittances back to Lebanon that likely dwarf foreign aid inflows.

Second, Lebanon's government has always been dysfunctional and led by people who can be called irrational. If Lebanon's leaders were practical and therefore inclined to take action under the threat of foreign aid or some other assistance being withdrawn, I suppose decades ago the country would have established full diplomatic relations with Israel and told the Hezbollah terrorists who regularly fire rockets into northern Israel from Lebanese territory to take a hike.

FYI, for decades now Japan's government has been seeking the extradition from Lebanon of Okamoto Kozo, a Japanese Red Army terrorist who helped carry out the Lod (now Ben Gurion) Airport massacre of 1972 in Tel Aviv that killed 26 people. But because the Lebanese government despises Israel, they'll never give up a Japanese national who committed an atrocity on Israeli territory.

All is much consistent: a turbo-loaded alpha man who has displayed such professional acumen in this immense effected industrial turn-around is a man of many resources, with more than one scenario ready, and who by essence never gives up, evidently not on himself, call it selfishness if you wish. Yet, the halfway sadistic treatment applied to him during the detention period - close to the prison's death row!!! - has been health- threatening: how could he come to terms with being subject to this kind of violence of another age? So, he has decided to escape from the dark passage and probably now prepares the next stages, such as possibly a trial held in Lebanon, an out-of-court civil settlement if/when feasible, orother options in the hands of his gifted lawyers. But, a proportion of the profiled charges will not stack-up outside Japan. Moreover, behind the sheer legal case, there are evidently many other not glorious motivations of his "accusers". He would hardly want to teach any lesson to sections of the Japanese society, but much more he is moving-on individually; now he has an array of fresh solutions likely at hand.

He couldn’t handle the loss of his lavish, jet-setting lifestyle.

Now you are the one making assumptions. He wasn't even allowed to see his wife, and lets be honest, even if they didn't had a case against him, the possibility of years of jail time was very much not just posible but probable. Not to mention the psychological torture and violation of human rights he already experienced while in "detention".

I think most people in his situation would just think about themselves, because most people aren't heroes, and that's ok.

As for his claim that he couldn’t get a fair trial, I disagree. It would have been the most high profile case of its kind in Japan with the global media watching.

I'm a little bit surprised that you believe so much in the legal system in Japan, given the fact that even in this high profile case there were very clear violations of human rights in place.

He probably did committed some financial crime of some sort that has to do with taxes, because basically everyone of us has, even if they aren't aware of, committed some taxed related evasion or lack of payment.

There is a reason why when the Police couldn't find anything of substance to get Al Capone, they just tried him for tax related crimes.

Something similar also happened with the Horiemon case, and he went to jail even thou it was once again a very high profile case.

You know, the prosecutors could simply go ahead and present their case.

It's not their interest to do it now. With a little chance, Lebanon won't keep the Ghosns. We've seen all his buddies coming to hide in Paris (including president Aoun) at each political crisis there, one per decade minimum. If next year, riots intensified, the Beyrouthi ruling class would flee again to Europe or the US.

From the US, Ghosn can be extradited, in which case the Japanese trial would have effect. From Europe, he'd be protected from extradition and a Japanese verdict would get no effect, in which case it would be better for Japan to refrain from judging him and to ask French authorities to judge his Japanese crimes (on top of his European crimes).

Ghosn's lawyers could defend. 

By running away, he has destroyed the career of his last lawyer. Nobody else will want to defend him.

Unless Ghosn is returned to Japan to face his trial, the Ambassador from Lebanon will be summoned in Tokyo, and there will be no more foreign aid from Japan to Lebanon. The ball is now in the court of the Lebanon government.

I didn't know that you were a government official who distributes overseas aid Fighto! You had better check with your department what you put on a public site.

He ran away instead of fighting in the court.

He escaped like a guilty person does. Next question, did he supply money to terror groups in the middle east? He ran like a terrorist.

@Jeff Ko Today 01:27 am JST

People who supposedly helped him will deny everything and will let go when heat dies down. Japan has no bargaining chip against Lebanon and France.

Well, but can they? Like it or not, right now Japan is the victim and the perpetrators seem to involve a lot of foreign nationals. If they do not seriously investigate this, that indicates they are OK with their citizens assisting with prison breaks, which cannot be good for one's reputation.

GHOSN IS A PUBLIC LIAR AND LOST ALL HIS INTERNATIONALS PRIVILEGES

°

People like Ghosn have an easier administrative life than most people. The second passport used to be to hide the mistress and the second family travel.

Now, he said he planned it himself when we know this is not possible.

His wife lie for him because she has no choice.

He probably stole ID papers by doing fake testimony to judges. And the french passport was the Japan judge property and not mister Ghosn. His lawyer was the procuror or judge hand if needed. Police didn't let him go around without ID papers like all foreigners in Japan.

*Note :** We are not even sure he left Japan since he has a twin to go with the second passport and the wife do not seems natural with him on a picture. So we know nothing for sure. Turkey is moving for good reason. This is dark. *

°

NadAge

From France.

Ghosn escaped with absolutely no consequences. People who supposedly helped him will deny everything and will let go when heat dies down. Japan has no bargaining chip against Lebanon and France. And the realities of Japanese legal system will be exposed in the following months. I can't wait to see this upcoming circus LOL

Undertaking has been breached, not undertaken

Mixing work with typing this.

"People familiar with the matter told Reuters that Ghosn, one of the world's best-known executives, had arrived in Beirut on a private jet from Istanbul on Monday."

Ghosn is definitely the best escapee in 21th century.

Ghosn, please produce a movie and you will be rich.

"Fleeing bail is definitely a crime in Japan, but that needs to be seen in context."

What do you mean by "needs to be seen in the context"? Is there any context that operates as a mitigation for jumping bail? Did you lean this at Law Col?

Escaping bail is a crime anywhere in the world.

The only context is: his Solicitor gave an undertaking, the client fled.

He was a suspect, now is a criminal.

And the Solicitor is in dire straits too, as the undertaken has been breached.

Simples.

He had an opportunity to expose any unfairness in court that would have been watched by the world..

And why do you think he was detained for 100 days and than the bail with those ridiculous conditions, he was never going to be allowed to expose anything, and why do you think the trial did not start even after 1 year, the prosecutors had everything before his arrest, so the trial should have started within 1-2 month of his arrest.

He also doesn't appear to care about the integrity of fellows Lebanese either.

Yeah right, talk about the integrity of the Nissan execs and the public prosecutor office.

I don't think Carlos Ghosn escaped by hidden inside the double bass case. I believe he escaped with the help of professional make up artist, and used and replaced one of the men's passports. Possibly, one man from musician group was still in Japan.

He may declare one of French or Lebanese passport missing some time ago and have already gotten a replacement in his hands and hide in secure place. He hand over his invalid old passport to his Lawyer.

Carlos Ghosn was super intelligent and very smart person. The Japanese authority discount on him, but they do not trust him. That's why the court imposed toughest and expensive bail condition on him.

Now Hollywood movie makers are hunting for the Carlos Ghosn story.

Why should anyone wait several years, giving up their life, for a trial to progress,whilst being denied basic freedoms?

Mr Ghosn was right to leave

He’ll never go back, it’s over. Japan got egg and lost big on this one, it’s their own fault.

Unless Ghosn is returned to Japan to face his trial, the Ambassador from Lebanon will be summoned in Tokyo, and there will be no more foreign aid from Japan to Lebanon. The ball is now in the court of the Lebanon government.

Can't wait for the movie!!!

. . his escape means he knew he was to be found guilty by authorities in Japan.

No. It means he felt the freedom in Lebanon was better than the possibility (not the certainty) of a guilty finding.

The word is detains. Just a formality..in a day or so they will have been interviewed and freed and be able to go on with their everyday lives.

I bet a Hollywood film is being mulled over at this very moment....

Private Security firm, (Mercenaries), whisking Japans #1 Criminal Mastermind out from under the noses of the local Police - and flown away from impromptu airstrip where a private stealth plane had been waiting... must have been a stealth plane, since the Turkish Air defenses clearly didn't see the plane come nor depart.

They could even turn it into a silent Keystone cops-like movie....

LagunaToday  06:45 pm JST

But multiple passports from a same country? - a "spare" passport? How did that come about?

As some people already replied above as well, many countries, including the US, let people have multiple passports when it is required. For example, you are applying for a visa to a country so you have to send your passport to their embassy but you are also travelling at the same time while the visa is being processed.

Also, you can always apply for a new passport at your embassy and say your previous passport was lost and they will issue you a new one. Nothing fishy and being used by travellers all over the world then their belongins get lost or stolen.

Ghosn escaped to Beirut, a pleasant city for people from that part . . . his escape means he knew he was to be found guilty by authorities in Japan.

Unless the Japanese government let him go, he is now a criminal. Keep that in mind before you cheer for him. Skipping bail, no matter how unjust you feel a country’s legal system is, is still a crime.

As for his claim that he couldn’t get a fair trial, I disagree. It would have been the most high profile case of its kind in Japan with the global media watching. Personally, I think whatever he did should have been handled internally at Nissan but if he had been found guilty, I think the worst he would have got is a suspended sentence.

I am not sure whether or not he is guilty, but I think that there is too much smoke for there not to be some kind of fire. However, I think that it became a criminal matter for political reasons - the Japanese justice system was happy to co-operate with the Nissan executives who wanted him gone.

While I think that he would have got a fairer trial than most, I am not convinced that it would be fair. Japan, as we know, is a country of de facto presumed guilt. Even the phrases such as him having an opportunity to prove his innocence in court show where the emphasis lies. While I suspect that he is guilty of some offenses, I would never know for sure, whatever the verdict.

And if this case would have just resulted in a suspended sentence, did they really need to keep him locked up for so long?

Fleeing bail is definitely a crime in Japan, but that needs to be seen in context.

The Turks will of course investigate and make arrests to save face but they will likely be set free quickly. Any thinking person in the same situation with the money of course would do the same think. He gave it a good crack but new he was bent over the table awaiting a shafting so used his noodle and got on his toes. Once the smoke blows over bet you no a soul does any time cos of him. Do feel a bit for the lawyers but hold on they are lawyers! Worse than traffic wardens, Sod them.

You know, the prosecutors could simply go ahead and present their case. Ghosn's lawyers could defend. Then the judge could decide. And we would all have a verdict. It would make it a lot easier for everyone.

But as has been mentioned, court cases in Japan don't go forward if the defendant is not present. At this point, it smells like the prosecutors can simply claim to have their hands tied. They don't have to release any proof, but can continue to label Ghosn as the bad guy. It's essentially a win for the prosecutors.

While it sucks to see regular people paying the price for what a billionaire did. What I also can't trust is Turkey. The Khashoggi situation is still fresh in my mind and I believe Turkey would simply throw any innocent person under the bus.

All of his arguments about the unfairness of Japan's justice system go out the window as he is now a bail jumper with zero credibility. But obviously tons of money stashed away to pull off this operation. He had an opportunity to expose any unfairness in court that would have been watched by the world. But the only thing he accomplished was saving himself, and ensuring that any foregners in the future who may be charged will be considered a flight risk and find it hard to be released on bail. So why are so many rooting for a person who would throw them under the truck in a flash.

The brown stuff is really hitting the fan now!!!

NHK is also reporting that two of pilots were Americans and that they had links to an American private security firm.

Despite the expectations, apart from various complaints and justifications, Ghosn will probably not want to say much that is really new in his interview next week.

This is what happens when a pro-china government decides do something completely stupid.

At the end of the day nissan will end up like Sharp. Shame on you Japan !

Ghosn has trampled all over everyone in this situation as he did while he was at nissan and as he did to get to that job in the fist place.

He cares for nothing and no one but him self, his greedy self.

He has thrown the lives of many others to the wolves once again and cares nothing, feels nothing !

The only good thing out of this whole saga is that he was able to bring international attention to the outdated and out moded Japanese justice system

I am expecting to reveal how Ghosn got escaped.

reveal anything that can sink the rest of the

LOL, ROTFL....it's written in the laws, what else is there to reveal?

Japanese criminals have cried foul before, they are in the minority, the majority of Japanese are proud of it.

Some foreign officials are also in awe of a system that delivers very low crime rate, and even lower rate of incarceration.

@laguna - 2nd passports are occasionally issued to frequent travelers to facilitate visa applications and ease travel to groups of countries that have poor relations, such as Israel and some ME countries, where having an entry stamp can cause problems.

I don’t believe he gives a damn about anybody but himself.

Agreed, sums it up well ^. He obviously doesn't care that his wife and others could be charged with perverting the course of justice.

He also doesn't appear to care about the integrity of fellows Lebanese either.

I think what they meant is that he was allowed to keep his French Passport, as every gaikokujin needs to carry identification card or passport all the time while in Japan otherwise they can be fined.

So actually Japanese authorities let him escape as I dont believe customs didn't recognize him at the airport.

Long story short Ghosn made a deal with Japan. They will let him "run away" and he will criticize justice system and Japan but won't reveal anything that can sink the rest of them. Won't give names any details etc. Just "rigged Japanese justice system etc. "

Laguna: Depends. I know for sure that Germany does grant its citizens the right to get one additional passport. The idea is that you might want to travel to countries without letting them know where you have been before...

I’m afraid Ghosn’s escape is going to cause a lot of trouble for a lot of people. These pilots are just the first.

He said he was looking forward to proving his innocence in court, but he has lost all my sympathy. And he’s left poor Greg Kelly holding the bag in Tokyo.

While I agree with Ghosn about Japan’s hostage justice system, I don’t believe he gives a damn about anybody but himself. He couldn’t handle the loss of his lavish, jet-setting lifestyle.

I am also astounded by the number of readers here on Japan Today that have been engaged in a Cralos Ghosn lovefest. Unless the Japanese government let him go, he is now a criminal. Keep that in mind before you cheer for him. Skipping bail, no matter how unjust you feel a country’s legal system is, is still a crime.

As for his claim that he couldn’t get a fair trial, I disagree. It would have been the most high profile case of its kind in Japan with the global media watching. Personally, I think whatever he did should have been handled internally at Nissan but if he had been found guilty, I think the worst he would have got is a suspended sentence.

As for his press conference on Jan 8, what is he going to say that we don’t already know? That he was set up to stop Renault from taking greater control of Nissan? We know that. That Japan’s justice system is a hostage system? We know that, too. That Saikawa and other Nissan execs did dodgy things, too? We know that also.

His wife has already said they won’t reveal details of the escape so as not to hurt those who helped them. That will come out anyway, unless the Japanese government was involved.

I hope there are some sharp reporters at the press conference. I’d like one of them to ask Ghosn about the money diverted to his wife’s yacht rental company.

I would also ask Ghosn how he feels to be a criminal.

This drama is a long way from over. I wonder if we will find out what really happened.

Used to be in charge of the family's passports when we visited the US. One immigration guy saw me fumbling with my kids' two passports and said, "Sir, please do not show me those" in reference to their Japanese passports. I asked why, and he said that, while holding multiple passports is not illegal, they'd just rather not know. So my kids figured that out.

But multiple passports from a same country? - a "spare" passport? How did that come about?