Carlos Ghosn's flight from Japan

[John Camp]

I find this an extremely interesting story. It's like a thriller movie; I'd love to know how he actually got out of Japan. He must have had some seriously professional help to get out, but where do you find those kinds of professionals, outside of thriller novels? People who can operate anonymously in Japan and get through airport security with a much-known and much-watched foreigner. How did he get past the government-monitored video cameras around his house? Did they carry him through in a box? Was he dressed in an airport security uniform? Were people bribed? How did they make the transfer of planes at Istanbul, another highly secure airport (although, also a fairly corrupt place. A bribe or two might have done it there.)

I've read a number of articles about Ghosn's detention in Japan, and I have to say it appears that he was likely subject to a kind of "legal" conspiracy to get rid of him, and maybe even to make a point about high foreign executives in Japanese businesses -- that is, they're not wanted, especially if successful. He was given brutally rough treatment compared to Japanese businessmen accused of much worse crimes.

Anyway...pretty interesting. Tom Cruise as Ghosn?

[Robert Roaldi]

Not Tom Cruise please, the Hollywood studio will just happy-end it with a brand-name actor. Better a BBC mini-series with a more anonymous lead. It might not be easy doing the research if the Japanese corporate culture is as closed as I'm led to believe.

I listened to an NPR podcast (Fresh Air, I think, I'll try to find it later today) about how differently the rich live. It aired about a year ago.  I don't remember all the details but I do remember the narrator of the story describing a situation where she and her boss had to meet some big cheese in another country (Switzerland?), they were flying from the UK, and she had forgotten her passport and felt bad about delaying things while she returned home to get it. Her boss told her not to worry, they boarded a private jet, landed wherever and were whisked to the big cheese's place in the country, no passport or customs control, and were flown back home by the end of day. No authority intervention. This is anecdotal of course, and may not apply to Japan, but things may be different depending on who you are, not news I know.

[Rob C]

I love these kinds of events; it makes buying a Rolex feel like an early part of the journey. Sadly, I suppose that having to buy it is the first sign of bad news for both dream and dreamer. Now, had it been presented as a little christening gift, things might have panned out otherwise...

Nonetheless, good luck to the guy: he turned the company around and in the general scheme of numbers, he deserved a little more than a salary and some shares (no, no insider truth or access to that either). It would come as a nice ending if it were to be proved that the Japanese govt. facilitated the exit just to get rid of the case without it continuing on and on with later moves to try to free him etc. which type of publicity brings no good. Lebanon seems a nice place for the under side of the carpet, though I believe that France would not deport him either. The guy's mind is far too valuable to leave languishing somewhere pointless.

He'll eventually turn up in Paris.

His story, whatever it is, is a good theme for a book, John. Get it out before the movie and maybe that'll be the spin off.

:-)

[Robert Roaldi]

His story, whatever it is, is a good theme for a book, John. Get it out before the movie and maybe that'll be the spin off.

Yeah, maybe that "f**kin' Flowers" can sort it out.   

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

... He must have had some seriously professional help to get out, but where do you find those kinds of professionals, outside of thriller novels?...

There is a bunch of private security companies in this world. All legitimate (in their legal status, not necessarily methods). Mostly engaged in kidnapping negotiations, extractions, anti-kidnapping measures for CEOs in high-risk countries, etc. I know that because I underwent an anti-kidnapping training with one such company. I guess all that anti-kidnapping and extraction knowledge (by those firms, not me) comes handy when they need to be on the other side

[Robert Roaldi]

I found that podcast I referred to earlier about how the ultra rich live, https://www.npr.org/2018/02/19/586457604/whats-it-like-to-be-rich-ask-the-people-who-manage-billionaires-money. It was from the Hidden Brain program, not Fresh Air.

[Rob C]

There is a bunch of private security companies in this world. All legitimate (in their legal status, not necessarily methods). Mostly engaged in kidnapping negotiations, extractions, anti-kidnapping measures for CEOs in high-risk countries, etc. I know that because I underwent an anti-kidnapping training with one such company. I guess all that anti-kidnapping and extraction knowledge (by those firms, not me) comes handy when they need to be on the other side

Slobodan, perhaps you should start writing that book!

Rob

[Dale Villeponteaux]

Turns out someone noticed a hole in airport security.
The private jet waiting room had few people about
and the scanner couldn't accomodate oversized boxes.
Put him in an oversized box with ventilation holes
in the bottom, then presto! he's outta there.

Regards,
Dale

[Rob C]

Turns out someone noticed a hole in airport security.
The private jet waiting room had few people about
and the scanner couldn't accomodate oversized boxes.
Put him in an oversized box with ventilation holes
in the bottom, then presto! he's outta there.

Regards,
Dale

Yeah, that sounds likely. You can't scan it, so you are never going to think of doing a manual check? And of course, no security dogs with dark, cold wet noses within miles.

I bet the entire thing was officially engineered simply to get him out of the country before too much media attention began to push big people into the public eye. Media scrutiny is not always welcomed. Better a mock fight once he's out of the country, much as, say, just for the sake of argument, firing off rockets into US bases that are probably announced before the event, as the US did when it made sure to let the Ruskies know so they could evacuate before the rockets came home to roost in Syria.

I don't believe much that I see on tv or read as news; genuine fiction is probably more honest.

[Alan Klein]

I agree. The Japanese officials looked the other way.