Car tycoon broke bail and fled to Lebanon last week as he awaited trial on charges of financial misconduct.

Japan's Justice Minister on Sunday condemned former car tycoon Carlos Ghosn for fleeing the country using what she said were illegal methods as he awaited trial on multiple counts of financial misconduct, in the first official comments on the case.

Masako Mori said there were no public records of the 65-year-old former Nissan boss leaving Japan.

"Our country's criminal justice system sets out appropriate procedures to clarify the truth of cases and is administered appropriately, while guaranteeing basic individual human rights," Mori said. "The flight by a defendant on bail is unjustifiable."

"It is clear that we do not have records of the defendant Ghosn departing Japan. It is believed that he used some wrongful methods to illegally leave the country. It is extremely regrettable that we have come to this situation," she added.