Carlos Ghosn's year-long legal saga: A timeline of key events

From shocking arrest, to Nissan upheaval, a trial and escape to Lebanon, the Ghosn tale has a new twist

Former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn, who was awaiting trial in Japan on financial misconduct charges, flew into Lebanon on December 30. AFP.

Carlos Ghosn, 65, the automotive titan and ousted Nissan boss facing trial in Japan after charges of financial misconduct, flew to Lebanon on Monday in the latest twist to a legal wrangle that began just over a year ago.

"I am now in Lebanon and will no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system where guilt is presumed, discrimination is rampant, and basic human rights are denied," the former head of Nissan and Renault said in an emailed statement on Tuesday.

Mr Ghosn – who holds Lebanese, Brazilian and French citizenship – had been under house arrest in Japan since April and was scheduled to go on trial there in a few months. Lebanon does not have an extradition agreement with Japan.

The executive, who is accused of financial crimes such as underreporting his salary and funnelling Nissan funds for personal use, denied any wrongdoing.

The legal battle has rocked the global automotive industry, dented Nissan's profit and hurt the alliance between Nissan and its French shareholder Renault.

Here's a look at the major developments in the Ghosn story: