Istanbul/Tokyo – Turkish private operator MNG Jet says two planes were used to help former Nissan Motor boss Carlos Ghosn escape Japan, blaming one employee for leasing the jets without the company's knowledge.

The company says it filed a criminal complaint "concerning the illegal use of its jet charter services in relation to Carlos Ghosn’s escape from Japan."

The employee "falsified the records" to hide Ghosn's name from documents, MNG chief executive Can Sasmaz said on the company website, adding the employee confirmed to police that he acted in his individual capacity.

Sasmaz said MNG did not own the planes but operated them. One private jet was leased from Dubai to Osaka and Osaka to Istanbul, and another private jet from Istanbul to Beirut, the company statement added.

On Thursday, police in Istanbul detained seven people, including four pilots, two employees of a private ground operations firm and the manager of a private cargo firm, for allegedly helping Ghosn escape.

The suspects were referred to court on Friday, state news agency Anadolu said.

The 65-year-old Ghosn managed to flee to Lebanon while he was out on bail and facing trial over financial misconduct charges in Japan.

Ghosn, who once led the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Motors alliance, escaped "injustice and political persecution" in Japan, he said in a statement after arriving in Lebanon on Monday.

He did not say how he managed to leave Japan, but said he is willing to talk to reporters next week.

Anadolu said late on Thursday that one long-range business jet took off from Osaka and landed at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport early on December 29, using Russian airspace.

Forty-five minutes later, a Bombardier Challenger 300-type jet took off from Ataturk to Beirut, the report added.

Meanwhile, a surveillance camera installed at Ghosn's residence in Tokyo showed him leaving his home alone around noon (0300 GMT) on Sunday, broadcaster NHK reported on Friday.

The footage did not show Ghosn returning to the residence, the report said.

Lebanese authorities have told dpa that Ghosn entered Lebanon legally on a valid French passport.

Lebanon received a wanted notice issued by Interpol for Ghosn, a judicial source in Beirut said on Thursday.

Lebanon does not have an extradition treaty with Japan.

Ghosn is expected to be questioned next week by a Lebanese judge about the charges he faces in Japan.

After questioning, the prosecutor will decide if Lebanon will allow a Japanese judicial team to take part in its investigation, the source added.

dpa