French justice issues an international arrest warrant

The showdown between Carlos Ghosn and French justice continues, Friday, April 22. In the morning, an international arrest warrant was issued by the Nanterre prosecutor’s office (Hauts-de-Seine) against the former boss of Renault-Nissan. He is targeted in an investigation of misuse of corporate assets, money laundering and corruption. This concerns nearly 15 million euros in suspicious payments between Renault-Nissan and its distributor in Oman. Jean Tamalet, lawyer for Carlos Ghosn, judges this mandate “very surprising”. “The investigating judge and the Nanterre prosecutor know perfectly well that Carlos Ghosn, who has always cooperated with justice, is subject to a judicial ban on leaving Lebanese territory”he recalls.

The businessman has been a refugee in Lebanon since 2019, after fleeing Japan where he was imprisoned. If the arrest warrant is executed, Carlos Ghosn will be brought directly before an investigating judge. But, as there is no extradition agreement between France and Lebanon, there is little chance that this will succeed. When questioned, Carlos Ghosn denies these facts with which he is accused and ensures that he is ready to defend himself.