"Escaping the Vagina of Musical Instruments": The Nissan CEO's Escape Strikes Japan

The full details of Carlos Goshen's litters from the trial that await him in Japan are unknown, but some estimates suggest that a foreign government or the Japanese government itself is involved in the escape operation. "It will end with him agreeing that he will spend the rest of his life in Lebanon," legal experts estimate

"Escaping the Vagina of Musical Instruments": The Nissan CEO's Escape Strikes Japan

Japanese authorities are furious at former Nissan chairman Carlos Goshen, who has long insisted on his innocence, and after a clear offense he will not be able to return to Japan without going to jail. "He burned his bridges to Japan," said Stephen Givens, a systems expert and lawyer Japanese law and corporations. "It will basically end with him agreeing that Goshen will spend the rest of his life in Lebanon."

It is still unclear how exactly Goshen escaped from law enforcement in Japan and popped up in Lebanon, or what was the ultimate target of his dramatic escape. Meanwhile, the Tokyo District Court canceled the bail on him - Japanese media reported. That means authorities will repay the 1.5 billion yen ($ 14 million) amount Goshen transferred to get out of custody in two separate kits. Goshen was first arrested in November 2018, released and then remanded. The Japanese court did not comment on the matter.

Goshen awaited trial, which was due in April, on four charges of "misconduct". It is still unclear how the Japanese authorities may investigate his escape. Goshen, of Lebanese descent and holding French, Lebanese and Brazilian passports, revealed his location in a statement he issued through his representatives, but did not say how he managed to escape Japan. He promised to talk about it at a press conference next week, saying he was trying to avoid "injustice and political persecution."

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Goshen is escorted by police after leaving house arrest in Tokyo, April (Photo: Reuters)

Nissan ousted CEO Carlos Goshen leaves house arrest in Tokyo, April 25, 2019 (Photo: Reuters)

"I am now in Lebanon and will no longer be held hostage by the frozen Japanese judiciary where everyone is guilty of rape, discrimination and basic human rights are denied, blatantly disregarding Japan's legal obligations under international law and the art it is obliged to uphold," the statement said.

His lawyer Junichiro Hirunka denied all the information about Goshen's escape, saying he was surprised by the reports. He said he did not expect Goshen to return to Japan. When asked if he took documents prepared for trial, Hirunka admitted he did not check, but said he seriously doubted Goshen's handling of the trial he was trying to avoid.

Popes in Lebanon: Nissan's ousted CEO fled Japan before trial began

The building in which Carlos Goshen is apparently staying in Beirut (Photo: Reuters)

The building where Carlos Goshen is likely to be staying in Beirut, January 1, 2020 (Photo: Reuters)

Japanese media reported that on Wednesday there were no official records of Goshen's departure from the country, but a private jet departed from a local airport to Turkey. In some reports of his escape, he was reported to have sneaked out of his Tokyo home and hid in a bag of musical instruments.

Lebanese Minister Slim Jarisathi told local newspaper A-Nahar that Goshen had legally entered the Beirut airport with a French passport and a Lebanese ID card. France responded with confusion and denied the news. Some estimates suggest that a foreign or Japanese government may have been involved in Goshen's escape, in order to avoid a potentially embarrassing trial. When Goshen is absent from the state, his trial is suspended.

However, the legal action is still pending against Nissan as another member and director of the company, the American Greg Kelly, who also claims he is innocent. The charges against Kelly partly overlap with the charges against Goshen.