Ghosn to Mount Vigorous Defense at Hearing, Son Says
Carlos Ghosn will attend a hearing of the Tokyo district court Monday.
(Bloomberg) -- Nissan Motor Co.’s former chairman Carlos Ghosn, indicted on suspicion of violating Japan’s financial reporting laws, will mount a “vigorous defense” at his first hearing this week, his son, Anthony, told France’s Journal Du Dimanche in an interview.
Carlos Ghosn will attend a hearing of the Tokyo district court Tuesday after his legal team requested an explanation of why his detention has been repeatedly extended since he was taken into custody Nov. 19.
“Everyone will be pretty surprised to hear his version of the story,” Anthony Ghosn told the newspaper. “Until now, we have only heard the accusation.”
But Anthony Ghosn says his father faces a paradox: confess to crimes of which he is innocent or remain in detention. It is quite common for prosecutors to keep people in detention for months or even years, he said.
“When the only condition for his release is a confession, you want to find a solution to end this nightmare,” Anthony Ghosn told the newspaper.
Separately, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said his government isn’t demanding Ghosn’s departure as chairman of Renault SA, which has an alliance with Nissan, as it still has no evidence of his alleged wrongdoing. “There is a presumption of innocence. I have nothing in hand that lets me demand Ghosn’s departure,” Le Maire said on French radio Europe1.
While Carlos Ghosn was indicted on allegations of under-reporting his compensation, the length of detention and lack of clarity on the case has drawn criticism. Ghosn was initially held without charge for longer than would be permitted in the U.K. for a suspected terrorist.
The executive was re-arrested on fresh, potentially more serious charges Dec. 21 just when it looked like he may be able to apply for bail. Prosecutors have accused him of transferring personal trading losses to Nissan, but are yet to indict him on this allegation. In Japan, indictment paves the way for prosecutors to lay formal charges.
His detention was last extended Dec. 31, putting him behind bars until at least Jan. 11.
(A previous version of this story was corrected to show the hearing is Tuesday)
To contact the reporter on this story: William Horobin in Paris at whorobin@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Fergal O'Brien at fobrien@bloomberg.net, Steve Geimann, Paul Jarvis
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