Ghosn was ousted from the company in 2018 after getting the auto conglomerate financially back on track. Additionally, he was arrested in Japan and charged with financial misconduct before fleeing to Lebanon on a private jet in a music case.
“Ghosn has already suffered some defeats”
But the chance that Ghosn will actually make a billion out of it, Leupen considers small. “I don’t know the Lebanese judicial system very well, but Ghosn has already suffered some defeats,” he says. “In the Netherlands, among others, he lost a case: Nissan accused him of embezzling 80 million euros.”
Renault
Renault also accuses Ghosn of stealing money which the firm claims was used by the former chief executive ‘to get rich’. “And so that Ghosn could live an exorbitant lifestyle,” Leupen explains. “Something he himself, of course, denied in every tone.”
Despite this, Ghosn is still in hiding in Lebanon. Especially since both France and Japan have arrest warrants against him, and Lebanon has no extradition treaty with Japan. “Actually, no one can catch him there,” concludes Leupen. “He is very militant and declares his innocence with fire in his eyes, to anyone who will listen.”
Ghosn would even employ “an army of lawyers” to defend himself day and night against all the allegations that come his way. “He could be said to be combative to the end,” concludes Leupen.