He was once one of the most powerful and respected executives in the global auto industry, leading a partnership between Nissan, Renault and Mitsubishi. But in 2018, Carlos Ghosn was arrested in Japan over allegations of financial misconduct, which he denies. He spent more than a year under house arrest or in custody, awaiting a trial that could take years. He felt he had no choice but to flee Japan and seek refuge in Lebanon, his native country. How did he manage to pull off one of the most daring and audacious escapes in recent history?
In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Ghosn revealed the details of his escape plan, which involved disguising himself and hiding in a large music equipment box that was loaded onto a private jet. He said he decided to flee Japan after losing hope of getting a fair trial and being subjected to harsh conditions that violated his human rights.
“I was not escaping justice – I was fleeing injustice and persecution, political persecution,” Ghosn told the BBC. “I’m not going to let them destroy me. I’m not going to let them destroy my family. I have no choice but to fight,” he said.
Ghosn said he planned his escape for months, with the help of a team of professionals who specialized in extracting people from difficult situations. He said he paid them $15 million for their services, but he did not reveal their identities or nationalities.
On December 29, 2019, Ghosn left his house in Tokyo, where he was under surveillance by cameras and security guards, and took a bullet train to Osaka. He said he wore a hat, a mask and sunglasses to avoid being recognized. He also had a fake French passport that he used to check into a hotel near the airport.
The next day, he met with two men who had arrived from Dubai with two large boxes that contained audio equipment. They helped him get into one of the boxes, which had holes drilled in it for ventilation. The boxes were not scanned by security at the airport, because they were too big to fit into the X-ray machines. They were loaded onto a private jet that flew to Istanbul, Turkey.
Ghosn said he spent about an hour and a half inside the box, waiting for the plane to take off. He said it was “the longest wait” of his life.
“I knew that I was taking risk, but I also knew that if I don’t take risk, I’m going to die in Japan,” he said.
In Istanbul, Ghosn switched planes and flew to Beirut, Lebanon, where he was welcomed by his wife and children. He said he felt “relieved” and “happy” to be free.
But his escape also sparked an international outcry and a legal backlash. Japan issued an arrest warrant for him and asked Interpol to issue a red notice for his capture. Turkey arrested several people who were involved in his transit through Istanbul. Lebanon received an extradition request from Japan, but it does not have an extradition treaty with Japan.
Ghosn said he is ready to face trial in any country where he can get a fair and transparent justice system. He also said he wants to clear his name and expose the truth behind his downfall.
“I’m not a hero. I’m not a martyr. I’m just somebody who had enough of being humiliated, enough of being accused of things that are untrue,” he said.
Ghosn’s story is one of the most fascinating and controversial sagas in the world of business and politics. It raises questions about corporate governance, cross-cultural management, judicial independence and human rights. It also shows how one man’s determination and courage can defy all odds and challenge the status quo.
Relevant articles:
– Ex-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn: How I escaped Japan in a box, BBC News, 13 July 2021
– Ghosn: How I escaped Japan hiding ‘in a box’, BBC News, 13 July 2021
– Ex-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn talks of daring escape from Japan, The Guardian, 14 July 2021
– Carlos Ghosn Describes ‘the Longest Wait’ in Box Escape From Japan, Business Insider, 14 July 2021