Ex-Nissan chief Ghosn denies family's role in planning escape from Japan

Former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn announced on Thursday that he planned his escape from Japan to Lebanon by himself, a local media outlet reported.

"Media reports about my wife or other family members playing a role in planning my trip to Lebanon from Japan are fake," Ghosn was quoted as saying by Elnashra, an online independent newspaper.

Ghosn arrived in Lebanon's capital Beirut on Monday after fleeing from Japan amid charges of financial misconduct.

Notably, the Lebanese prosecution received earlier in the day a red notice by the Interpol to arrest Ghosn.

Meanwhile, caretaker Justice Minister Albert Serhan said Ghosn will be prosecuted according to Lebanese laws in the absence of any extradition treaty between Lebanon and Japan.

Lebanon applies the presumption of innocence to every accused person until they are proven guilty, he added.

Ghosn is expected to be interrogated by the Lebanese judiciary next week about the charges of tax evasion and fraud pressed against him by the Japanese judiciary.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)