Carlos Ghosn, during a press conference in Beirut, in 2020. (Credit: AFP archives)
BEIRUT — In a recent ruling, the urgent matters court of appeal, led by Judge Habib Mezher, froze the eviction order against former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn from his residence in Achrafieh, Beirut. This decision will hold until the legal battle with Phoinos, a company associated with the Japanese automaker, is fully adjudicated.
The original eviction order was issued on Oct. 17 by Beirut Judge Hala Naja, whose jurisdiction involves urgent matters. Ghosn, who has since appealed the decision, has been granted temporary reprieve and can remain in his home until a final verdict is reached. However, the stay is provisional and will not influence the decision of the primary judge in Beirut, who is handling Phoinos' 2019 lawsuit for "property violation."
Ghosn maintains that there is a signed agreement with Nissan allowing him to reside in the property which also had a guarantee-of-sale attached. He claims he has invested in extensive restorations of the house. On the other side, Phoinos asserts its ownership over the property, stating that the agreement with Nissan does not bind them, particularly given their independent corporate identity. While Phoinos once sanctioned Ghosn's occupation of the property, they now seek to reclaim it, claiming the occupation to be illegal at this point.
