BEIRUT: Lebanese Minister of Justice Albert Serhan told on Wednesday that Japan has not filed an official extradition request for former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, who fled Japan for Lebanon via Turkey on Dec. 30.

Ghosn, a Brazilian-born French businessman of Lebanese ancestry, was arrested in Japan in November 2018 over allegations that he had under-reported his earnings and misused company assets. He was re-arrested under new charges of misappropriation of funds while out on bail in April. Ghosn has broken the terms of his bail by fleeing to Lebanon.

Serhan said: 鈥淕hosn has Lebanese citizenship, and 鈥� according to the principles and laws 鈥� is thus treated as a Lebanese citizen. According to our applicable laws, a Lebanese man will be tried before Lebanese courts unless there is an extradition treaty, and there is none between Lebanon and Japan. In any case, we will not jump to conclusions. Until now, the Japanese government has not sent any request to have him returned.鈥�

Lebanon accepted an extradition request from the US earlier this year, despite the fact that it has no extradition treaty with America. Ali Salameh, who holds dual Lebanese and American citizenship and was accused of kidnapping his four-year-old son from the United States and taking him to Lebanon following a dispute with his wife over his custody, was handed over the to FBI. However, Serhan stressed: 鈥淭hat man had dual citizenship. Carlos Ghosn does not have Japanese citizenship. Every case is different.鈥�

Asked whether Ghosn fleeing to Lebanon would affect Lebanese-Japanese relations, Serhan said: 鈥淲e hope (not). If principles are followed and laws are respected, this case cannot affect the relations between the two countries.鈥�

He stressed that Lebanon is keen to maintain good relations with all countries, and that it respects international law. 鈥淟ebanon needs Japan, which is one of the largest economies, and it provides us with assistance,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e hope that Japan understands, especially with regard to Lebanese laws.鈥�

Ghosn is believed to be planning a press conference in Beirut on Jan. 8, saying in a statement on New Year鈥檚 Eve, 鈥淚 can now finally communicate freely with the media and look forward to starting next week.鈥� 

Serhan said that Ghosn could hold the press conference but only if he did not damage relations between Lebanon and Japan.

鈥淕hosn is a Lebanese citizen who enjoys (the same rights as all citizens),鈥� Serhan said. 鈥淗e may hold his press conference as long as he does not criticize any state and does not affect relations between our two countries.鈥�

The Lebanese Foreign Ministry stressed in a statement that it wishes to maintain 鈥渢he best relations with the Japanese State,鈥� but added that Ghosn entered Lebanon 鈥渋n a legal manner.鈥�

The ministry explained that, a year ago, Lebanon sent a number of official communiqu茅s to the Japanese government in relation to Ghosn鈥檚 case, but no response was received. During the visit of Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Keisuke Suzuki to Lebanon a few days ago, a complete file on the case was handed to the Lebanese government.

During Suzuki鈥檚 visit 鈥� the first by a Japanese state minister to Lebanon in three years 鈥� he said: 鈥淛apan believes that peace and stability in Lebanon is of great importance for the entirety of the Middle East and, therefore, Japan is committed to supporting Lebanon.鈥�