Ghosn-Dati trial: Carlos Ghosn absent, Paris criminal court proceeds
The Paris criminal court decided to proceed with the Ghosn-Dati trial despite a procedural irregularity raised by the former chief executive of Renault-Nissan.
Ghosn absent from Paris, Dati trial goes ahead
The Ghosn-Dati trial opened on Wednesday before the Paris criminal court, despite a procedural irregularity that nearly caused it to collapse, Le Figaro reports.
At the centre of the first hearing: the summons to appear served on Carlos Ghosn, former chief executive of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Sheltering in Lebanon since his escape from Japan, the industrialist claims he did not receive this document within the required timeframe and contends he had no access to the proceedings. His Lebanese lawyer was present in the courtroom.
The request for postponement submitted by Ghosn's defence rests on a precise rule: when a defendant resides abroad, they must be informed of hearing dates at least two months and ten days in advance. The National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF) itself acknowledged the administrative failure.
The court nevertheless decided to overlook this irregularity and to try the case without Carlos Ghosn. Rachida Dati, co-defendant in this case, will therefore be tried in his absence.
The trial, awaited for several years, concerns allegations of corruption and trafficking in influence linked to contracts between Renault and the communications group of the minister. Ghosn, sheltering in Lebanon since the end of 2019, effectively escapes any extradition to France.
Source: Le Figaro