Carlos Ghosn, the larger-than-life international business tycoon who fell from grace and left Japan smuggled inside a music box, is the subject of a new documentary series on Apple TV+.
Wanted: The Escape of Carlos Ghosn investigates the early life and swift rise of a man whom Forbes magazine in 2006 called “the hardest-working man in the brutally competitive global car business”.
The four-part series traces the life of the Brazilian-born former executive who lived the high life for two decades in Japan as the head of Nissan and Renault.
Amid legal troubles, however, in 2019, he escaped to Lebanon aboard a private jet with the help of a former Green Beret.
The series, directed by British filmmaker James Jones, is released on Friday.
“It is a Shakespearean morality play about modern CEOs and corporations and you have Ghosn as the tragic hero, a man who worked his way up from nothing,” Sean McLain, a Wall Street Journal reporter and a consulting producer on the series, told The National.
The documentary details his 2019 brazen escape from Japan that followed several arrests over charges that he underreported his earnings and misappropriated company funds – allegations he has firmly denied.
“I think one thing that the documentary does really well is we're painting a portrait, though not as a villain or a hero, but as a human being with all their works,” Mr McLain said.
“In real-life stories, no person is black or white.”
The documentary includes interviews with Mr Ghosn and his wife Carole in Lebanon, a country that has not signed an extradition agreement with Japan, where he remains a wanted man.
To enable his escape from Tokyo, Mr Ghosn, who holds French, Lebanese and Brazilian citizenship, sought the services of Mike Taylor, who had served in US special forces, and who was also interviewed in the series.
Mr Taylor hid the executive in a custom-made musical instrument box with holes in it so Mr Ghosn could breathe, and then put him on a private jet heading to Lebanon.
But after returning to the US, Mr Taylor and his son Peter, who had also helped Mr Ghosn escape, were extradited to Japan to face charges.
In July 2021, the elder Mr Taylor was sentenced to two years in jail while his son received a 20-month sentence. More than a year later, the two were transferred to the US, where they were allowed to finish the remainder of their sentences. The elder Mr Taylor maintains that he was never paid in full for his services.
Asked in June if he felt any guilt over the two men receiving jail sentences, Mr Ghosn told The National with a laugh: “This is a contract. Come on, these are professional people.”
Earlier this year, Mr Ghosn filed a $1 billion lawsuit against Nissan and accused it of defamation, violating the sanctity of his residence and fabricating charges.
He has also claimed that the Japanese judicial system is unfair.
“I did not escape justice. I escaped injustice,” Mr Ghosn said at a news conference shortly after arriving in Lebanon.
Diana Moukalled, a Lebanese journalist and filmmaker, said that for the past four years Mr Ghosn has largely been living a normal life in Lebanon.
She says he is often seen out in public, is running a new business and has been invited to give lectures to business students at universities.
“In Lebanon, Carlos Ghosn was viewed as a success story, and he is still being treated as such, despite all the charges stacked against him,” Ms Moukalled tells The National.
“His alleged crimes were committed outside of Lebanon, and therefore not a priority for the public as an figure who must face justice.”
But though he is safe from extradition in Lebanon, he has not been able to leave the country, as Japan has issued an Interpol red notice against him, meaning he could be arrested if he travels abroad. He also faces charges in France.
For Mr McLain, what the new documentary achieves is challenging the perception of Mr Ghosn in extreme terms.
“A lot of people see this as a binary debate where Carlos Ghosn is either viewed as the victim of a secret plot by Nissan executives who did not want the Japanese company to merge with Renault,” Mr McLain says.
“Or, Mr Ghosn as a criminal who was using his company as his own personal piggy bank.
“The documentary does a good job of showing that both things can be true.”
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Virtual banks explained
What is a virtual bank?
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority defines it as a bank that delivers services through the internet or other electronic channels instead of physical branches. That means not only facilitating payments but accepting deposits and making loans, just like traditional ones. Other terms used interchangeably include digital or digital-only banks or neobanks. By contrast, so-called digital wallets or e-wallets such as Apple Pay, PayPal or Google Pay usually serve as intermediaries between a consumer’s traditional account or credit card and a merchant, usually via a smartphone or computer.
What’s the draw in Asia?
Hundreds of millions of people under-served by traditional institutions, for one thing. In China, India and elsewhere, digital wallets such as Alipay, WeChat Pay and Paytm have already become ubiquitous, offering millions of people an easy way to store and spend their money via mobile phone. Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines are also among the world’s biggest under-banked countries; together they have almost half a billion people.
Is Hong Kong short of banks?
No, but the city is among the most cash-reliant major economies, leaving room for newcomers to disrupt the entrenched industry. Ant Financial, an Alibaba Group Holding affiliate that runs Alipay and MYBank, and Tencent Holdings, the company behind WeBank and WeChat Pay, are among the owners of the eight ventures licensed to create virtual banks in Hong Kong, with operations expected to start as early as the end of the year.
Scoreline
Chelsea 1
Azpilicueta (36')
West Ham United 1
Hernandez (73')
Napoleon
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The specs
A4 35 TFSI
Engine: 2.0-litre, four-cylinder
Transmission: seven-speed S-tronic automatic
Power: 150bhp
Torque: 270Nm
Price: Dh150,000 (estimate)
On sale: First Q 2020
A4 S4 TDI
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel
Transmission: eight-speed PDK automatic
Power: 350bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh165,000 (estimate)
On sale: First Q 2020
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
Results:
5pm: Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m | Winner: AF Tahoonah, Richard Mullen (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,400m | Winner: Ajwad, Gerald Avranche, Rashed Bouresly
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m | Winner: RB Lam Tara, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m | Winner: Duc De Faust, Szczepan Mazur, Younis Al Kalbani
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 2,200m | Winner: Shareef KB, Fabrice Veron, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh90,000 1,500m | Winner: Bainoona, Pat Cosgrave, Eric Lemartinel
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
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Mercedes V250 Avantgarde specs
Engine: 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder turbo
Gearbox: 7-speed automatic
Power: 211hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 350Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0 l/100 km
Price: Dh235,000
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Liverpool's all-time goalscorers
Ian Rush 346
Roger Hunt 285
Mohamed Salah 250
Gordon Hodgson 241
Billy Liddell 228
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Jawan
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Profile Periscope Media
Founder: Smeetha Ghosh, one co-founder (anonymous)
Launch year: 2020
Employees: four – plans to add another 10 by July 2021
Financing stage: $250,000 bootstrap funding, approaching VC firms this year
Investors: Co-founders
Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
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Isle of Dogs
Director: Wes Anderson
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Liev Schreiber, Ed Norton, Greta Gerwig, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Scarlett Johansson
Three stars
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