BEIRUT -- Tuesday marked one year since former Nissan Motor Co. Chairman Carlos Ghosn, 66, skipped bail and fled from Japan to Lebanon after being indicted on suspicion of violating the Companies Law and other charges.
A recent visit to Beirut cast light on Ghosn's life as a fugitive, marked by vigilance for fear of being taken into custody.
On Dec. 23, I visited the upscale residential area in central Beirut where Ghosn's residence is located. The mansion was quiet and there was no sign of human activity even through the windows. Since his escape, Ghosn has been living in this house, which was purchased and renovated with about 16 million dollars (about 1.7 billion yen) of Nissan funds.
A security guard could be seen behind the entrance to the parking area. According to a Ghosn acquaintance, who described meeting with him every month, the former chairman has around-the-clock personal security. When he goes out, his guards make an advance inspection and carefully monitor his safety.
Ghosn left Japan illegally by private jet from Kansai Airport late at night on Dec. 29, 2019. Interpol has issued a wanted notice calling for Ghosn's arrest, in response to a request from the Japanese government, but Lebanon has not complied.
The acquaintance quoted Ghosn as saying: "I am both free and in captivity. If I go abroad, I risk being detained." Ghosn is said to sometimes pilot a yacht himself, cruising the Mediterranean Sea with friends, but he is always careful not to leave Lebanese waters.
In August, a massive explosion occurred in the port of Beirut, about 1.5 kilometers from Ghosn's residence, killing more than 200 people. Ghosn was staying in a summer resort in the north of the country at the time and so escaped harm, but the acquaintance was surprised by his reaction.
According to the acquaintance, a dismayed Ghosn said, "The Japanese are trying to kill me or arrest me," and he kept calling people connected to security authorities until his safety was confirmed.
Ghosn sent a statement to The Yomiuri Shimbun on Dec. 28 about his current life, saying: "Leaving injustice behind me, I am now spending time with my wife … with my family and friends, enjoying simple things in life."
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
