People familiar with the situation reported that French prosecutors sought international arrest warrants for Carlos Ghosn and four individuals they allege are linked to an auto dealer in Oman, claiming they helped the car titan siphon millions of euros from Renault SA.

According to the prosecutor's office in the Paris suburb of Nanterre, an investigating magistrate issued five international arrest warrants against Ghosn, the former CEO of Nissan Motor Co. and Renault, as well as the current owners or former directors of the Omani company Suhail Bahwan Automobiles, a vehicle distributor in Oman.

They claim Ghosn used the Omani vehicle distributor to divert millions of dollars from Renault for his own purposes, including the purchase of a 120-foot yacht.

Ghosn fled to Lebanon while hiding in a musical equipment box from a trial in Japan on charges of financial malfeasance.

He initially welcomed the French probe after fleeing, stating he believed in the French legal system and that it would allow him to prove his innocence. Ghosn's spokeswoman declined to comment on the arrest warrants.

Ghosn's personal circumstances will not be significantly altered by the latest arrest warrant. He fled Japan and is now hiding in Lebanon in a property purchased for him by the Japanese carmaker.