French Prosecutors Obtain Arrest Warrant for Carlos Ghosn in 'Escape of the Century' Case and Move to Apprehend Him

Former Nissan Motor Chairman Carlos Ghosn
[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] On the 21st (local time), the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and others reported that French prosecutors have obtained an international arrest warrant for Carlos Ghosn, the former chairman of Nissan Motor, who is involved in the "escape of the century," and have launched a manhunt.

According to reports, Ghosn is accused of embezzling millions of euros of company funds during his tenure as chairman of Renault. French prosecutors believe that Ghosn used the embezzled funds for personal purposes, such as purchasing a yacht. Since 2019, France has been investigating Ghosn on charges of misappropriating Renault funds for events such as parties at the Palace of Versailles.

Ghosn, a Lebanese-Brazilian with French nationality, was arrested by Japanese prosecutors in November 2018 on charges including breach of trust while serving as chairman of Nissan, a subsidiary of Renault. In December 2019, while under house arrest, he dramatically escaped by hiding in a plane cargo box through Kansai Airport and has since fled to Lebanon, continuing his escape.

However, WSJ predicted that the issuance of the warrant would not have an immediate impact on Ghosn's situation, as Lebanon does not extradite its citizens. Ghosn holds French, Brazilian, and Lebanese citizenship.

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