His accomplice turns against him in a shocking new documentary

2023-08-21 16:14:04

Helped by his son, the former American soldier Michael Taylor organized the incredible escape of Carlos Ghosn from Japan at the end of 2019. Four years later, he is now asking him to account in a new program broadcast by Apple TV + from August 25 . Directed by the British James Jones, To the recherche of Carlos Ghosn is a documentary series in four episodes based on the investigations of the Wall Street Journal to draw a complete portrait of the ex-star boss of Renault-Nissan and his descent into hell.

Like the documentary Carlos Ghosn : The Last Flight of the BBC in 2021, To the recherche of Carlos Ghosn exploits the very cinematographic springs of the case, from the dazzling career of the businessman until his arrest at the end of 2018 in Japan, on suspicion of financial embezzlement. “He’s a larger-than-life character, with huge qualities, and very big flaws,” described journalist Nick Kostov, one of the authors of the book that inspired the series.

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“The story is far from over”

Apple’s series focuses on his escape from Japan on a private jet, hidden in a musical instrument box, thanks to the experienced Michael Taylor and his son. These, like other collateral victims of the affair, served time in prison for their involvement. Carlos Ghosn has since remained in his golden prison in Lebanon, which does not extradite its nationals, even if the Franco-Brazilian-Lebanese businessman is the subject of arrest warrants issued by the Japanese courts and French.

Michael Taylor thought that “evacuating him from Japan was like saving him from North Korea”, according to Nick Kostov. But the prison in Japan broke the ex-soldier elite, as well as his son. “Carlos’ stay in prison was a joke compared to what we endured”, with long stays in solitary confinement, describes Michael Taylor in the documentary.

The former soldier now accuses Carlos Ghosn of not having paid him commensurate with the service rendered. “I put a million dollars out of my pocket, in legal costs (…) I am a good friend, but I can also be a great enemy. The story is far from over,” he says.

Money laundering?

Throughout the documentary, Carlos Ghosn, 69, is described as a man whose success went to his head, even organizing a party in his honor at the Palace of Versailles. Former employees at Nissan, but also Louis Schweitzer, who placed him at the head of the manufacturer, or the former French Minister of the Economy Arnaud Montebourg, tell how he would have lost touch with reality.

The reporters of Wall Street Journal then look at an alleged money laundering scheme passing through Oman, based on excerpts from Carlos Ghosn’s correspondence. Via this scheme, millions of dollars in bonuses from Renault would have been awarded to an Omani billionaire before being paid to the boss of Renault-Nissan.

According to Carlos Ghosn, he was only paid for business advice. According to a Renault lawyer, it was “a typical conflict of interest” and “very well paid”. “Honestly, is that all that’s left after all I’ve done? “says Carlos Ghosn in conclusion. “It can’t end like this. In Japan, there can be no trial in his absence. In France, the businessman is still under threat of a trial.