Ousted Nissan chief Ghosn says he's in Lebanon

Beirut: Carlos Ghosn, the ousted Nissan Motor Co. Chairman, has confirmed that he was currently in Lebanon, saying he decided to escape Japan to not become a "hostage" of the Asian country's justice.

Ghosn, who is thought to have left Japan and entered Lebanon under a false identity, was on bail for various charges of financial mismanagement during his time at the head of the automobile company, Efe news reported on Tuesday.

"I am in Lebanon. I am no longer a hostage of a Japanese judicial system where guilt presumption prevails, where discrimination is generalized and where Human Rights are breached," Ghosn said in a statement on Monday.

"This in absolute disregard toward laws and international treaties Japan has ratified and is meant to respect.

"I haven't escaped justice - I have freed myself from injustice and political persecution," he added, a reiteration of past statements he has made denouncing the charges against him as politically motivated.

The former Chairman further said he could now freely speak to the media and that he would do that starting next week.

Ghosn, 65, was arrested in November 2018 but was released on bail in April.

He faces four charges of alleged financial irregularities during his tenure at the helm of Nissan Motor.

The former Renault Group President violated the conditions of his bail, which prevented him from leaving Japan, and left the country on a private plane.

Ghosn was under house arrest in Tokyo and his lawyers were required to have his passport. He was not allowed Internet access and was under constant security camera surveillance.

His trial has been scheduled for April 2020.