Ex-Nissan chief Ghosn wants case dismissed over ‘prosecutor misconduct’
Ex-Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn has called for the case against him to be dismissed, saying the charges were politically motivated and accusing Japanese prosecutors of a “pervasive pattern of illegal misconduct.”
The claims, made in two filings to the Tokyo District Court, allege prosecutors colluded with Nissan and effectively subcontracted out their investigation to employees of the automaker who were trying to oust Ghosn.
“The prosecutors’
case, which was politically motivated and poisoned from the start, is fundamentally flawed and contradicted by the evidentiary record,” Ghosn’s lawyers said in a statement.
Ghosn is out on bail in Tokyo, awaiting trial on four charges of financial misconduct. He denies any wrongdoing and laid out his defense again on Thursday.
The filings formalize claims Ghosn has made previously — that the allegations against him stem from resentment within Nissan over his plans to more closely integrate the firm with its alliance partner, French automaker Renault.
Along with Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan and Renault form a leading auto alliance, but relations inside the partnership have been tense at times.
Ghosn’s legal team claim the opposition to further integration of the car firms drew in even government officials from Japan’s trade ministry METI.
“The prosecution against him resulted from unlawful collusion between the prosecutors, government officials at METI, and executives at Nissan,” Ghosn’s legal team said in a statement.
“Our argument is that this case itself is made up,” said Ghosn’s lawyer Junichiro Hironaka. “Concerns arose within Nissan that, should Mr. Ghosn stay, the company might become absorbed by Renault. So they wanted to oust him and decided to cook up a case.” The filings made on Thursday do not compel a response from the court before the trial begins, which Ghosn’s legal team have said may not be before next April. But they lay out their strategy for attacking the case against him, as well as his defense on the specific charges. Contacted by AFP, the prosecutor’s office had no immediate comment. The allegations are the latest twist in a case that has gripped the business community since Ghosn’s shock arrest last November.