GHOSN GRANTED BAIL AGAIN
Former Nissan chief agrees to be monitored and restrictions on seeing wife
FORMER Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn emerged from his detention centre, here, last night after accepting bail of 500 million yen (RM18.6 million) under strict conditions, including restrictions on seeing his wife.
The 65-year-old tycoon faces four charges of financial misconduct ranging from concealing part of his salary from shareholders to siphoning off Nissan funds for his personal use.
Ghosn exited the Kosuge Detention Centre around 10.30pm after spending 21 days answering questions from authorities over allegations he creamed off US$5 million (RM20.7 million) in Nissan funds for personal ends.
Unlike his previous departure when he was dressed bizarrely in a Japanese workman’s outfit with cap and facemask, Ghosn this time strode confidently out dressed in a dark suit without tie.
Under the conditions of his bail, Ghosn must stay in Japan and must live in a court-appointed residence with cameras to monitor his movements amid fears he might try to destroy evidence.
His lead defence lawyer Junichiro Hironaka said the conditions also included an “approval system” to see his wife Carole, whom prosecutors believe has made contact with people involved in the case.
“If the court approves it, she will be able to meet him.”
Ghosn denies all the charges, with a spokesperson for the executive saying he would “vigorously defend himself against these baseless accusations and fully expects to be vindicated”.
Unless re-arrested over further allegations, Ghosn will be free to organise his defence ahead of a possible trial that is likely to take months to prepare.
Hironaka has said a trial as early as the autumn was “not possible for various reasons”.
Deputy prosecutor Shin Kukimoto at the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office said it was “extremely regrettable that (the court) approved his bail even as it recognised that the accused had planned to work with people related to the case.”
The court had also “recognised there was a fear over destroying evidence of the crime”, Kukimoto added.