Auto executive-turned-fugitive Carlos Ghosn is beneath investigation in France for doable tax evasion throughout his final three years heading Renault and Nissan, in accordance with an individual aware of the matter.

Ghosn and French tax authorities have been discussing because the center of final yr whether or not the previous CEO ought to have been thought of a French resident throughout 2016, 2017 and 2018, mentioned the individual, who requested to not be named as a result of the data isn’t public. Ghosn declared in 2012 that he had moved to the Netherlands and was subsequently handled as a non-resident, the individual mentioned.

The newspaper Liberation reported Monday {that a} French decide allowed authorities to grab virtually 13 million euros ($16 million) in property from Ghosn and his spouse, Carole, pending the end result of the probe. Authorities are getting ready a “main” tax adjustment, the paper mentioned.

A spokeswoman for Ghosn declined to remark.

The tax probe provides to Ghosn’s authorized woes in France, the place authorities are already investigating his position in bills lined by Renault and the Dutch subsidiary that oversaw its alliance with Nissan. Ghosn was arrested in Tokyo two years in the past and accused of economic crimes together with underreporting his compensation at Nissan. He has denied the fees and escaped final yr to Lebanon.

Seized property

The property seized embrace an condo in Paris owned by Carole price 5.9 million euros, half the possession of a home within the western suburb of L’Etang-la-Ville and shares in Renault, in accordance with the report, which didn’t say the place the data got here from.

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire on Monday declined to verify a probe into Ghosn’s tax affairs. Whereas he has entry to details about these sorts of investigations, Le Maire mentioned he wouldn’t intervene.

“Whether or not he’s on the run, within the nation or not within the nation, he’s a French citizen and might be handled like a French citizen,” the minister mentioned of Ghosn on France Data radio.

‘Clear conscience’

In his book published last month, Ghosn mentioned he used his residence standing within the Netherlands as a “sign of neutrality” since he headed the three-company alliance that additionally contains Mitsubishi Motors Corp. It was additionally justified by the wage he was paid by the Renault-Nissan BV subsidiary, he wrote.

In separate probes, authorities in France are investigating the previous Renault chairman’s interactions with a automobile distributor in Oman and spending on occasions and journeys that will have been private, in addition to funds that Renault-Nissan BV made to consultants. Ghosn mentioned final month that French prison investigators will journey to Beirut subsequent yr to query him.

“Why ought to I flee the French judiciary?” he mentioned in a broadcast interview. “I’ll reply the questions that come my manner. I’ve a transparent conscience.”

Ghosn additionally mentioned he received’t threat touring to France and Brazil out of concern that any drawback alongside the way in which might give Japanese authorities a possibility to acquire his extradition. He mentioned he’s compelled to stay in Lebanon and retains armed bodyguards.