Japanese court releases former Nissan boss on bail

FORMER Nissan Motor Company chairman and representative director Carlos Ghosn was last week released from a Japanese jail after posting his ¥1 billion ($A13 million) bail in cash.

 

Having been imprisoned in the Tokyo Detention House for 108 days, Mr Ghosn, 65, left the facility in a Suzuki while bizarrely disguised as a construction worker, in an attempt to avoid the media scrum awaiting him outside.

 

Mr Ghosn’s bail is subject to strict conditions, including no international travel, court-approved accommodation, constant video surveillance and limited internet access.

 

A bail application was lodged twice before but denied each time, leading Mr Ghosn to hire a new lawyer who was able to secure his release on the third attempt.

 

A trial date is yet to be set for Mr Ghosn, who faces three charges of financial misconduct that carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

 

“I am extremely grateful for my family and friends who have stood by me throughout this terrible ordeal,” Mr Ghosn said in a statement.

 

“I am also grateful to the NGOs and human rights activists in Japan and around the world who fight for the cause of presumption of innocence and a fair trial.

 

“I am innocent and totally committed to vigorously defending myself in a fair trial against these meritless and unsubstantiated accusations.”

 

One of the allegations Mr Ghosn faces is that he falsified documents to under-report his salary by ¥5 billion ($A64 million) from 2011 to 2015 with help from fellow Nissan Motor Company representative director Greg Kelly.

 

Mr Kelly, who has worked for the Japanese brand for 31 years, was granted his ¥70 million ($A8.9 million) bail with similar conditions by the Tokyo District Court on Christmas Day last year.

 

As reported, Mr Ghosn was last year removed from his leadership positions in the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance and at Mitsubishi Motor Corporation, while he agreed to resign from Groupe Renault as its chairman and chief executive in January.

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