The CEO Who Smuggled Himself Out of the Country | The Big Steal

Former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn’s dramatic escape from Japan in a music instrument case made headlines around the world. He was accused of breach of trust, misappropriation of funds, and under-reporting $80 million of his own salary.

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[stephenwabaxter]

Having watched a number of documentaries on the Carlos Ghosn case it seems that on balance this is a case to be answered. However I consider the Japanese justice system totally unfair with what appears to be a presumption of guilt. Detaining Mr Ghosn without access to a lawyer for three months in solitary confinement is totally unacceptable.

[friendlybane]

Carlos is probably corrupt. But we'll never know because of Japan's terrible justice system. And as a result, everyone else loses.

[SALESPRODUCTIONS]

He likely did embezzle - BUT it is also likely that evidence was fabricated or embellished by other parties looking to do basically a corporate "coup de' etat" - and so it is a complicated issue. AND - if you do even basic research into the culture of the Japanese - it boils down to this - IF you are charged with a crime in Japan - it is extremely unlikely you will be acquitted at a trial or even get a fair trial. The culture is BIZARRELY dystopian - and living a "high life" of luxury worked profoundly against him - given the citizens of Japan would be on his jury. And so fleeing in a box to another country was an extremely wise and necessary choice. Last I heard is he is still free - but the mercenaries he hired to get him out of the country are not.

[ducatipaso]

The real issue is while in custody the Japanese Police sit in on all visitation with counsel & family to take notes for the Prosecutor! No attorney-client privilege exists under Japanese law.

[Lotsoguns]

Japan's justice system is a stain on a otherwise beautiful nation. They can hold you for 2 weeks without a lawyer or outside contact! Make sure whoever you travel with in Japan also understands this! Be carefull when drinking etc!

[nomah]

The Japanese government is economically protectionist and has a track record of brutality. Most CEOs are greedy and often claim dubious profits. I think most of the statements from both sides are true. So… They both suck and deserve each other.

[turnerwright]

The important question isn't whether he did it or not — that's completely irrelevant. What's important is that guilty or not, he was judged guilty by Japan's legal system and treated like an animal. He was entirely within his rights to escape, as should everyone facing prosecution or even suspicion in Japan.

[blackumbrella]

I saw the documentary about Carlos Ghosn on Netflix a week ago and it gave me a new perspective on this case because the accusation against him is lack hard evidence. From what I've seen, Ghosn was accused of using Nissan's money to buy jewelry and offshore properties. As for jewelry, they never specify if those jewelry were luxury watches or daimon necklaces. They just say "jewelry" and that was that. But what surprised me the most was those offshore properties they claim Ghosn secretly used Nissan's money to buy were in fact cosigned by Nissan CEO himself.

[VirtualR]

The guy really lives up to his name, Car Loss, Gone.

[JessiOzk]

Well if u out of blue arrest a person who has turned around ur country’s biggest company and throw him in jail because culturally you are scared of something then that’s your problem.
Not only that, you treated him like a murder accused and confined him to solitary confinement just because you wanted to force a confession out of him. He did the best for himself by smuggling himself out of there.

[khalidalali]

I’m glad he made it to Lebanon. As we all know, Lebanon is a bedrock of transparency, rule of law, and Justice since 1943.

[yazanrajei]

This sounds like Japanese Nissan executives wanted him out by any means necessary.

[PatriciaSonia]

This highlights Japan’s inhumane justice system. I suspect that they accused him of doing what 98% of people in his position does - distasteful, unfair global pay practices that are not illegal. so having a trial or access to a lawyer would have gotten him off, because the courts would have clearly seen that they simply singled him out for their own purposes.

[Sjalabais]

The biggest mystery here is why Hollywood hasn't turned this into a movie yet. Crazy case!

[aeromtb]

it was a hit job on him to take him out

[CODJackYT]

I think they all ate Nissan's money, Carlos more than the rest, sure. But the reason for his arrest must have been the "threat" of Nissan disappearing under Renault. The Japanese would have definitely not let that happen, even if Nissan was loss making.

[Dlugia]

Can this journalist please do all Vice News videos?! Well done 👍

[nsp]

The greed of big companies' CEOs is nothing new. I would be much more interested in coverage of the lack of civil rights in Japan.

More than a hundred days detained, with no visits, no lawyers, and under constant interrogation: that is a violation of human rights, regardless of whether the suspect is guilty or innocent.

When Ghosn got away, the justice minister at the time made a statement on social media that "it was his duty to come back and prove his innocence", which shows that presumption of innocence, a basic pillar of due legal process in free countries, does not exist in Japan.

That is a much more important topic to cover.

God knows how many people who can't afford high-profile lawyers and rescue operations get abducted by Japanese police and imprisoned without due process.

[marcuswhite]

Japan executives didn't like that he was trying to form an alliance between Nissan and Renault. He was a very smart guy and turned Nissan around. I worked for Nissan for 13 years and got a chance to see him many times. He used to visit the plants all the time.

[nathanadrielsvlogs]

the news reporter is a filipino he even has a filipino accent!!!! seeing another pilipino like me is making me happy.