NOTICE BOARD

Renault to probe disgraced ex-CEO

Paris – Renault has found evidence that it paid part of Carlos Ghosn’s wedding costs and is preparing to turn the investigation over to prosecutors, two weeks after the French carmaker’s scandal-hit chairperson and chief executive was forced out.

An internal probe established that a 2016 sponsorship deal with the Chateau de Versailles included a €5 000 (R77 000) personal benefit to Ghosn, the carmaker said on Thursday, confirming a report in Le Figaro.

The carmaker replaced Ghosn on January 24, more than two months after his arrest in Japan over allegations of financial misconduct uncovered by Renault’s Japanese affiliate Nissan, which he also chaired.

Renault began its own examination of payments to Ghosn within days of his detention, but had not flagged any irregularities until now.

“The event space at Versailles was made available to him without charge and Mr Ghosn was unaware that the use of the space would be charged against Renault’s allotted usage,” Ghosn’s lawyer, Jean-Yves Leborgne said. –