Arab News

Former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn has caused a media storm in earlier weeks due to his escape to Lebanon from his house arrest in Japan.

Since Ghosn’s globally anticipated press conference Jan. 8, the Lebanese fugitive has been living a new life in his homeland.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Ghosn is finding it difficult to leave Lebanon without risking arrest, and the country’s economic crisis is restricting his movement and access to cash.

Ghosn also claimed that he was told to protect himself as Nissan or Japanese authorities may be shadowing him.

Currently, his main priority is clearing his name and working on his counterattack against charges that he misused company money as the chairman of the alliance between Renault and Nissan Motor Co, reported WSJ.

With the ongoing Lebanon protests to overthrow the current government, Walid Jumblatt, a Lebanese lawmaker has called for Ghosn to be named the country's energy minister.

According to WSJ, Ghosn said he has no interest and that he steers clear of Lebanon's sectarian politics.

The ex-CEO revealed Lebanese officials asked him to refrain from harshly criticizing Japanese office before his press conference as to not cause tension between the two countries, reported the daily newspaper.

Ghosn also attempted to decrease tensions regarding a trip he made to Israel in 2008 when he was the head of Renault. A group of Lebanese lawyers petitioned a court to arrest Ghosn over the trip as Lebanese citizens are banned from traveling there.

"Of course, I apologize for the visit, and I was very moved that the Lebanese people were affected by it," he said. "The last thing I wanted to do was hurt the Lebanese people."