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WATCH | How Carlos Ghosn, the motor industry's enigma, fled out of Japan in a box

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Carlos Ghosn (AFP / Vanderlei Almeida)
Carlos Ghosn (AFP / Vanderlei Almeida)
Vanderlei Almeida

• Carlos Ghosn was in charge of Renault and Nissan 

• The 66-year-old was accused of under reporting his compensation package during the 2010s

• He was under house arrest in Japan when he undertook a daring escape

It's been described as a scene from an spy thriller, a man fleeing to another country without a passport while under house arrest in one of the world's most sophisticated countries. 

Yet that's exactly what Brazilian-born Carlos Ghosn, former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn did. The 66-year-old was accused on financial wrongdoing by Japanese authorities and detained in Tokyo.

He was closely-guarded by law enforcement officials after allegedly under reporting compensation packages he received between 2010 and 2014.  

Highest paid person in Japan

On December 29 of last year Ghosn was smuggled out of Japan in a box assisted by a former United States Army Special Forces member and his son. Ghosn went to Lebanon, where he grew up, a counry that doesn't have an extradition treaty with Japan. 

Reuters reported that a US prosecutor argued that Michael Taylor and his son, Peter Taylor, have a "clear and present reason to flee" after being accused of helping Ghosn. The duo are seeking extradition back to the US. 

Ghosn had been in solitary confinement for 180 days before being released on bail under very strict conditions. And faced an uphill battle to clear his name in Japanese courts. He was facing a 15-year jail sentence. 

But that never happened. The former Renault executive evaded the men who were tailing him and made his way to Osaka via a high-speed train. He then went to Kansai airport and crazily was concealed in a box similar to what concert organisers use to transport equipment. 

The team of highly-organised former police and army operatives were able to smuggle Ghosn out of Japan.   

Bloomberg Businessweek Reporter, Matthew Campbell, uncovered details surrounding the escape and the events that led up to it. 


Do you think Ghosn will clear his name? Mail us


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