Carlos Ghosn Welcomed By Lebanese President After Escape

Plausible theories are now emerging about how Carlos Ghosn, the imprisoned former chairman and CEO of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance who was under surveillance after posting bail, staged his audacious escape from Japan on Dec. 30, 2019. While none of these escape theories has been confirmed by Japanese authorities, all of them indicate Ghosn's Lebanese wife, Carole, played the key role in his incredible escape from Tokyo to Lebanon.

Media reports claim Ghosn was warmly welcomed by Lebanese president Michel Aoun on Monday. They say Ghosn in now in a cheerful and combative mood after his escape. Ghosn will hold a press conference on January 8 and is expected to reveal details about his incredible escape from Japan.

Ghosn's saga began when he was arrested at Haneda Airport on Nov. 19, 2018, on allegations of under-reporting his earnings and misuse of Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. assets and jailed. Ghosn has steadfastly denied all the charges made against him.

After posting bail, Ghosn was re-arrested in Tokyo on April 4 over new charges of misappropriating Nissan funds. On April 8, Nissan shareholders voted to oust Ghosn from the company's board. Ghosn was released on bail on April 25 and was out on bail when he made his spectacular escape. He paid a ¥1.5 billion ($13.8 million) bail for his temporary freedom.

What makes his escape intriguing is that Ghosn's three passports (French, Brazilian, Lebanese) were all confiscated so he couldn't leave Japan. Ghosn was placed under strict surveillance and was subject to restrictions on his use of phones and computers.

Various media organizations are now reporting Ghosn flew via a private jet to Lebanon via Turkey. This route was confirmed by data from Flightradar24 that shows a private jet flying from Osaka, Japan, to Istanbul, Turkey. Data reveals another jet continuing to Lebanon. Flightradar24 is a Swedish internet-based service that shows real-time commercial aircraft flight information.

Ghosn arrived in Lebanon early Monday morning. Lebanon's ministry of foreign affairs announced: "Carlos Ghosn entered Lebanon at dawn yesterday legally." The ministry further said the "circumstances surrounding his departure from Japan and entry into Beirut are unknown and all chatter about it is a private matter."

The ministry hasn't explained how Ghosn entered the country legally without a passport. Once in Lebanon, Ghosn released a statement, saying he had "not fled justice -- I have escaped injustice and political persecution." Lebanon does not have an extradition treaty with Japan.

One unverified -- and quite laughable -- account of Ghosn's escape reported by Lebanese television station MTV claims Ghosn smuggled himself out in a large musical instrument box after a Christmas band visited his Tokyo home. He was then flown out of Japan by private jet.

On the other hand, the French daily Le Monde claims Carole Ghosn organized the escape with the help of her brothers and associates in Turkey. Le Monde said after leaving Tokyo, Ghosn took a private jet with Carole from a small airport in Japan to Turkey.