This is an act that makes light of the Japanese judicial system and is absolutely unacceptable.
Carlos Ghosn, former chairman of Nissan Motor Co., left Japan without permission while on bail and fled to Lebanon in the Middle East before the start of his trial on alleged aggravated breach of trust, among other charges.
In a statement released after his getaway, Ghosn claimed that he has "escaped injustice and political persecution." He also criticized the Japanese judicial system as one in which "guilt is presumed [and] discrimination is rampant."
This is a one-sided excuse given after he had breached the conditions of his bail. Ghosn is suspected of committing a crime and was indicted in accordance with the law. His argument should be made in court.
The Tokyo District Court has revoked Ghosn's bail. The 1.5 billion yen bail bond will be forfeited.
It is only natural that the judiciary and prosecutors have asked the International Criminal Police Organization through the National Police Agency to place him on an international wanted list.
Ghosn has Lebanese, French and Brazilian nationality. Lebanese authorities have said he entered the country legally. There is no criminal extradition treaty between Japan and Lebanon.
The government should use all the diplomatic means at their disposal to urge the Lebanese government to hand him over.
Ghosn is believed to have left Japan from Kansai Airport on a private jet on Dec. 29 and entered Lebanon via Turkey. There are no records of his departure, which suggests he left the country illegally.
Who helped him leave the country and how? It is vital to determine precisely what happened. Immigration authorities must investigate whether there were any flaws in the departure procedures at the airport. It is also necessary to ask the Turkish and Lebanese authorities for their cooperation.
Ghosn was granted bail because the court accepted the strict conditions presented by his lawyers, such as a ban on overseas travel, restrictions on the use of personal computers and the installation of security cameras at his residence. His lawyers hailed the conditions, saying they "presented a system in which escape would be impossible."
Ghosn's lawyers failed to get their client to comply with the bail conditions and allowed him to flee abroad as a result. It must be said that they bear a significant amount of responsibility.
Ghosn's trial was scheduled to begin this spring. The trial cannot be convened in the absence of the defendant, thus it could affect the trials of Nissan and former Representative Director Greg Kelly, which were scheduled to be held together with Ghosn's trial.
If he is allowed to get away with this, it will hamper efforts to establish the truth in court. This would damage the credibility of the Japanese judicial system and also threaten the rule of law.
-- This article appeared in the print version of The Yomiuri Shimbun on Jan. 5, 2020.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
