Ghosn declares innocence in 1st appearance in court
The Yomiuri ShimbunCarlos Ghosn, the former Nissan Motor Co. chairman rearrested on suspicion of aggravated breach of trust under the Companies Law, denied the suspicions in a court hearing held Tuesday to disclose the grounds of his prolonged detention.
Appearing in court, Ghosn, 64, said in his statement of opinion that he had been wrongly accused and unfairly detained based on groundless accusations.
His lawyers intend to request that the court annul the detention after the hearing ends.
It was Ghosn’s first public appearance since he was arrested on Nov. 19 by the special investigation squad of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office on suspicion of violating the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law by understating his executive remuneration in the company’s securities reports.
Appearing in court in a blackish suit at 10:30 a.m., he seemed somewhat thinner, with his jaw leaner. During questions put to the accused by Presiding Judge Yuichi Tada to establish his identity, Ghosn clearly stated his name and other details.
Ghosn was rearrested on suspicions of aggravated breach of trust that inflicted damage on Nissan. Those suspicions include that he had a valuation loss of about ¥1.85 billion, which he had incurred through his private investment, transferred to Nissan and that he had a total of $14.7 million (about ¥1.6 billion at the current exchange rate) of Nissan’s funds sent to an acquaintance in Saudi Arabia who helped him over guaranteeing credit for the investment contract.
After explaining these charges, the judge said, “Considering the content and nature of the case, the defendant’s depositions and so forth, there is a fear of the defendant approaching officials concerned to destroy evidence.”
The judge also said there is a possibility of Ghosn fleeing the country, as he has bases for living abroad.
Afterward, the hearing of the statement of opinions was held, in which Ghosn said with emphasis that he never inflicted damage on Nissan with the transfer of the valuation loss, one of the two suspicions.
With regard to the provision of money to his acquaintance, Ghosn explained that it was not a private disbursement but was made as compensation on the basis of a request from the acquaintance’s company, and with internal approval at Nissan.
The lawyers made a request to the court on Jan. 4 to disclose the reasons for the continued detention. During an interview held earlier, the defense said there are no suspicions that would support the continued detention and said they would ask the court to explain the reasons for the detention.
After he was arrested on suspicion of violating the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law on Nov. 19, he was indicted on Dec. 10. On the same day, he was rearrested on suspicion of violating the same law.
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