Japan to ask Lebanon to help probe Ghosn case

Japan plans to express regret to Lebanon that the former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn escaped Japan to Lebanon and will ask the Lebanese to help investigate the case, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Tuesday.

The Japanese ambassador to Lebanon is expected to hold a meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun later on Tuesday, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

Suga said Japan has been communicating with Lebanon, as well as other related foreign governments, to help Japan to look into the sudden flight by Ghosn from Japan where he was on bail awaiting for trial on financial misconduct allegations.

Lebanon has said he entered legally with a French passport on December 30. He has not been seen since, but has promised to speak to reporters on Wednesday.

Suga did not say whether Japan would seek Lebanon's help to extradite Ghosn.

Japan's Justice Minister Masako Mori repeatedly stressed that Japan would strengthen border checks and review bail conditions after the incident.

Ghosn's bail has been revoked and Interpol has issued a wanted notice. Japan does not have an extradition treaty with Lebanon, but the Japanese government left open the possibility that Japan could seek Ghosn's return.

But such a return so far appears unlikely and Japan's options are limited.