Khaldon Azhari

TOKYO: Former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn on Tuesday said he was not looking for a political career but would help Lebanon if asked to do so.

Ghosn spoke by video to a press conference hosted by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan, which also featured his Japanese lawyer GOHARA Nobuo.

“I’m not interested in a political career, and I’ve said it many times,” he told the media in Tokyo replying to a question from Arab News Japan. “My story has a lot of support in the Arab world, and even in France, in Brazil and many countries. Why? Because people are shocked. They said this guy worked for 19 years in Japan for Japan. He saved the company that could not be saved by the Japanese. He worked for them for 19 years. He was an ambassador of Japan for 19 years. We heard him in Davos. He has been decorated by the Emperor of Japan. He was advisor of KOIZUMI (Junichiro) Prime Minister to help bring foreign investment and this is how they deal with him at the end.”

Ghosn admitted losing the initial battle with Nissan but with a $1 billion lawsuit filed against Nissan and those who brought about his downfall, the war is far from over. In turn, Nissan is suing Ghosn in Japan in a civil case, demanding damages for his alleged wrongdoing. However, the lawsuit in Lebanon is not a civil case and could be more damaging for Nissan.

“It’s a criminal lawsuit based on the many crimes that Nissan has committed,” Ghosn said. “In Lebanon, crimes which have been now supported by facts, witnesses, visits, names, and these people cannot get away with it, and that’s why I’m pursuing this. Nissan created a lot of damage for me, damage that cannot be repaired.”

“People will be called to come to the criminal justice in Lebanon, and if they do not come, well, they will bear the consequence of not coming and not coming to defend themselves. This is a criminal lawsuit which will have financial consequences.”

Ghosn told the audience that even people at the United Nations said his arrest was “arbitrary” and violated his human rights. But he claims he is not out for revenge, only justice.

“What I’m looking for is not revenge; I’m trying to get part of my rights back and I just want to make sure that all the criminals and the plotters will not sleep quietly in their beds after what they have committed. Nissan will have to pay for what they have done to me and to my family and the people who contributed will pay also. There is justice in Lebanon.”