Carlos Ghosn, the former auto executive who has been living in Lebanon for nearly four years, is facing a new setback in his ongoing saga. Lebanese courts have ruled that Ghosn and his wife must vacate their multimillion-dollar compound in Beirut due to a dispute over ownership.
Ghosn had moved into the luxurious estate in 2019, but the company that owns the property, Phoinos Investment, claims that he has been residing there unlawfully. According to the company, Ghosn has been trespassing on private property without any legal basis. It is believed that Phoinos Investment had a relationship with Nissan, which allowed Ghosn to live in the compound. However, a judge has determined that this arrangement was part of a contractual agreement between Ghosn and Nissan, which came to an end when he was ousted from the company.
The court has given Ghosn until mid-November to vacate the property, but his legal team has appealed the decision. If forced to leave, it remains uncertain where Ghosn will go. His precarious legal status makes it difficult for him to leave Lebanon, as he fears arrest and extradition to either France or Japan, where he faces charges of fraud and other offenses.
Carlos Ghosn was once hailed for his successful turnaround plan at Nissan in the early 2000s. He served as the head of Nissan and Renault for several years, until his arrest in late 2018. Ghosn was accused of misusing company funds to acquire extravagant properties worldwide, with some of the money being funneled through a shell company to conceal its origin.
In a daring escape from Japanese custody in December 2018, Ghosn managed to flee the country hidden in a cargo crate disguised as audio equipment. He received assistance from a team of individuals, including airport personnel who falsified passenger records. Lebanon, where Ghosn holds citizenship, does not have an extradition agreement with Japan, and thus has the right to refuse extradition requests from French authorities.
As the legal battle over his property in Lebanon unfolds, Carlos Ghosn’s future remains uncertain. With his options limited by his legal status, Ghosn’s story continues to captivate the world.
