Ghosn indicted for second time over new charges
TOKYO: Carlos Ghosn’s chances of getting out of jail anytime soon took a serious blow on Friday after he was indicted for a second time by Japanese prosecutors building their case against the fallen car executive, who was detained almost two months ago.
The ousted Nissan Motor Co. chairman was indicted Friday for acts including temporarily transferring personal trading losses to Nissan in 2008, as well as for understating his compensation for three years through March 2018. Last month, he was indicted for underreporting his income for an earlier period. His lawyers applied for bail, acknowledging the slim chance of success.
The latest legal twist pulls Ghosn deeper into the Japanese criminal system, which grants authorities sweeping powers to keep suspects locked up for an extended period. The time behind bars has already taken its toll on Ghosn. He appeared in public for the first time on 8 January looking gray and gaunt, and was led into a court room handcuffed and with a rope tied around his waste.
Ghosn is being held in a cell with a toilet and a wash basin. His lawyers said Tuesday that he’s been granted a bigger room and what they called western-style bed.
Nissan’s board removed Ghosn from the post of chairman on 22 November and ejected American citizen Kelly from his position as a representative director.
Renault, which is the biggest shareholder in Nissan, has refrained from removing Ghosn, instead appointing interim replacements.