The Facts
Carlos Ghosn, a global car industry titan who was arrested in Japan in 2018 for financial misconduct before fleeing the country, filed a $1B lawsuit in Lebanon against Nissan, which accuses the carmaker of defamation, slander, libel, and the fabrication of material evidence.
The lawsuit asks for over 5% of Nissan's $16B market value — made public on Tuesday — and accuses two other companies and 12 people of related crimes, with a hearing reportedly scheduled for September. Nissan hasn't commented on Ghosn's allegations.
The Spin
Narrative A
Ghosn has a right to at least attempt to clear his name and use any available legal avenues to do so. According to Ghosn's claims, he would not have been able to get a fair trial in Japan, thus making it necessary for him to relocate somewhere else. Though it is unclear how Ghosn's legal campaign will conclude, he's within his right to fight to defend himself and preserve his reputation.
Narrative B
Ghosn's decision to hide out in Lebanon is emblematic of how the country has turned into a safe haven of financial criminality. When wealthy Lebanese citizens commit financial crimes abroad, they can always be relatively certain that they will be able to flee to Lebanon to avoid accountability.
