Interpol issues wanted notice to Lebanon for ex-Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn

Interpol has issued a wanted notice for former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn, who jumped bail in Japan and fled to Lebanon rather than face trial on financial misconduct charges.

Lebanese justice minister Albert Serhan told the Associated Press that Lebanon “will carry out its duties”, suggesting for the first time that the automotive titan may be brought in for questioning.

But he said Ghosn entered the country on a legal passport and appeared to cast doubt on the possibility Lebanon would hand Ghosn over to Japan.

Interpol issued what is known as a Red Notice, or a request to law enforcement agencies worldwide that they locate and provisionally arrest a fugitive.

Ghosn, who is Lebanese and also holds French and Brazilian passports, was set to go on trial in Japan in April.

He arrived in Lebanon on Monday via Turkey and has not been seen in public since.

In a statement, he said he had fled to avoid “political persecution”.

Lebanese authorities have said that he entered legally on a French passport.

Ghosn’s sudden arrival in Beirut shocked Japan and confounded authorities.

How he was able to flee Japan, avoiding the tight surveillance he was under while free on 1.5 billion yen (£10.4 million) bail, is still a mystery.

Ghosn, who grew up in Beirut and frequently visited, is a national hero to many in this Mediterranean country, with close ties to senior politicians and business stakes in a number of companies.

Even as he fell from grace internationally, politicians across the board mobilised in his defence after his arrest in Japan, with some suggesting his detention may be part of a political or business-motivated conspiracy.

Mr Serhan said prosecutors will summon Ghosn and listen to him, and “at a later stage if there are any measures to be taken, then the precautionary measures will be taken”.

“We are a country of law and respect the law and … I can confirm that the Lebanese state will implement the law,” the justice minister said.

“The prosecution will not stay cross-armed regarding this Red Notice.”

At the same time, Mr Serhan said that Lebanon has not received an official extradition request from Japan, and he noted that the two countries do not have an extradition treaty.

“Mr Ghosn arrived in Lebanon as any ordinary citizen … Lebanese authorities have no security or judiciary charges against him. He entered the border like any other Lebanese using a legal passport,” he added.

Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency said Turkish authorities had detained seven people as part of an investigation into how Ghosn fled to Lebanon via Istanbul.

In Japan, prosecutors on Thursday raided Ghosn’s Tokyo home.

Japanese media showed investigators entering the home, which was Ghosn’s third residence in Tokyo since he was first arrested a year ago.

Authorities have searched each one.

Ghosn’s lawyers in Japan said they had no knowledge of the escape and they had all his passports.

Ghosn has French, Lebanese and Brazilian citizenship.

Japanese public broadcaster NHK TV, without identifying sources, reported that Ghosn had two French passports.

Earlier, Japanese reports said there were no official records in Japan of Ghosn’s departure, but a private jet had left from a regional airport to Turkey.

The Hurriyet newspaper said the plane carrying Ghosn landed at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport at 5.30am local time on December 29.

The paper reported that Ghosn was not registered upon landing and was smuggled on board another plane that left for Lebanon.

Ghosn, who was charged in Japan with under-reporting his future compensation and breach of trust, has repeatedly asserted his innocence, saying authorities trumped up charges to prevent a possible fuller merger between Nissan Motor Co and Renault.