Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Foreign Minister HAYASHI Yoshimasa on Tuesday said Japan wants former Nissan President Carlos Ghosn to stand trial.

Ghosn fled from Japan to Lebanon while on bail after Nissan and prosecutors accused him of financial misdeeds.

“Ghosn fled Japan illegally and this is deeply regrettable,” Hayashi told Arab News Japan. “The government of Japan cannot condone this situation. The defendant should return to court under Japanese jurisdiction.”

Hayashi said that the government has asked Lebanon repeatedly to take action, but Ghosn is protected under Lebanese law. Hayashi seemed to imply that the matter could affect Japan-Lebanon relations.

“In regard to the Japan-Lebanon relationship, Lebanon is playing an important role in the business stability of the Middle East region and, so far, Japan has also been providing various forms of assistance, including in response to the Syrian refugees,” he said. “In regard to such services, we will continue to take all necessary steps in collaboration with the government of Lebanon.”

In the last week, Ghosn has reportedly launched a $1 billion lawsuit against Nissan, but Hayashi refused to be drawn into that dispute.

“This is a lawsuit between a person and a private enterprise,” he said. “Because of those circumstances, I would like to refrain from commenting from the standpoint of the government.”