7 arrested in Istanbul for aiding ex-Nissan CEO’s flee

ADDS DETAILS OF INVESTIGATION, STATEMENT OF SAVINGS DEPOSIT INSURANCE FUND OF TURKEY

By Halil Demir, Murat Paksoy and Izzet Taskiran

ISTANBUL (AA) - Seven people were arrested in Istanbul over aiding ex-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn’s escape from Japan to Lebanon, an official statement said on Thursday.

Police squads arrested the suspects; four pilots, two employees for a private ground service company and one company executive, according to the written statement by Istanbul Governor's Office.

The arrest came after Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation into Ghosn's escape to Lebanese capital of Beirut via Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, after skipping bail in Japan.

As part of the investigation, two flights of two private jets from the Japanese city of Osaka to Ataturk Airport and then Beirut are being investigated.

One of the jets, which took off from Osaka, landed at Ataturk Airport at 05.15 a.m. local time (0215GMT) on Dec. 29, while the other jet Bombardier Challenger 300 took off from Ataturk Airport for Beirut at 06.00 a.m. local time (0300GMT) on Dec. 30.

Meanwhile, the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF/SDIF) denied the reports that the private jet, which took Ghosn from Istanbul to Beirut, belongs to a company of Turkish businessman Reza Zarrab, which is managed by TMSF's trustees.

Companies and assets of Zarrab are not managed by TMSF’s trustees and the private jet is nothing to do with the TMSF, the statement stressed.

* Writing by Nilay Kar Onum