Lebanon will not hand Ghosn over to Japan

Lebanon's Justice Minister Albert Serhan told Mainichi Shimbun that his country has no intention of handing Carlos Ghosn over to Japan.

Serhan remarked that both countries have no extradition treaty and that Ghosn has the right to stand trial in Lebanon.

After conforming that on January 2 his country received an alert from Interpol to locate and detain Ghosn, Serhan said Lebanon will conduct "any investigations that are necessary, including asking Mr. Ghosn his version of the story (of Japan's escape).".

The minister stated that the Lebanese prosecutor's office will later decide whether to detain Ghosn or prevent him from leaving the country.

Serhan refrained from revealing whether the former Nissan president entered Lebanon on a French passport, but assured that he had done so with legal documentation. (International Press)