Prosecutors raid ex-Nissan Chair Ghosn's Tokyo home

Japanese prosecutors on Thursday raided the Tokyo home of former Nissan Chairman, Carlos Ghosn, after he skipped bail and fled to Lebanon before his trial on financial misconduct charges. Tokyo prosecutors and police did not immediately comment. Japanese media showed investigators entering the home, which was Ghosn's third residence in Tokyo since he was first arrested a year ago. Authorities have now searched each one.

Government offices in Japan are closed this week for the New Year's holidays. It is unclear how Ghosn avoided the tight surveillance he was under in Japan and showed up in Lebanon. Ghosn said in a statement on Tuesday he left for Lebanon because he thought the Japanese judicial system was unjust, and he wanted to avoid “political persecution.”

He said he would talk to reporters next week. Japan does not have an extradition treaty with Lebanon. Lebanon has said Ghosn entered the country legally, and there was no reason to take action against him. His lawyers in Japan said they had no knowledge of the escape and they had all his passports. Ghosn has French, Lebanese and Brazilian citizenship.