Lebanese lawyers file report demanding Ghosn be prosecuted over Israel trips
Lebanese lawyers filed a report demanding that ousted Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn be prosecuted for violating Lebanese law by visiting Israel to sign contracts and attend conferences.
Three lawyers "submitted a report to the public prosecutor against Ghosn for having entered an enemy country and violated the boycott law", AFP reported. Lebanon is still officially at war with Israel, which occupied the south of the country until 2000. The country forbids its citizens from travelling to Israel.
Earlier on Thursday, Lebanon received an Interpol arrest warrant for Ghosn. An Interpol red notice calls on authorities to arrest a wanted person.
Ghosn currently faces four charges in Japan, including hiding income and enriching himself through payments to car dealerships in the Middle East. He denies the charges.
The 65-year-old former Nissan chairman, who holds Lebanese, French and Brazilian citizenship, made a dramatic escape to Lebanon earlier this week and has said he would not be "held hostage" for an upcoming trial in a "rigged Japanese justice system".
The Financial Times reported that the Lebanese government had been trying to secure the auto executive's return to the country since October. Beirut officials have denied this.
The filing accuses Ghosn of travelling to Israel in 2008 to support a partnership with Shai Agassi, an Israeli entrepreneur who had launched an electric vehicle venture called "Project Better Place".
The Lebanese lawyers said several contracts had been signed during this trip and added that Ghosn had taken part in several economic conferences.
Ghosn entered Lebanon on a private jet from Turkey, according to documents seen by AFP.
Turkey has detained seven people for questioning over how the fugitive businessman was able to transit through Istanbul en route to Lebanon, two Turkish officials told Middle East Eye.
Ghosn has denied all charges against him and said he would hold a news conference next week.
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