Tokyo court grants bail to Ghosn

After more than three months in jail, ex-Nissan boss is out on R127m bail

05 March 2019 - 06:44 By Reuters
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Since his November arrest Ghosn has lost his perch atop an automotive alliance trio of French car maker Renault and Japanese automakers Nissan and Mitsubishi. Picture: REUTERS
Since his November arrest Ghosn has lost his perch atop an automotive alliance trio of French car maker Renault and Japanese automakers Nissan and Mitsubishi. Picture: REUTERS

A Tokyo court on Tuesday granted bail to Carlos Ghosn, the ousted chairman of Nissan Motor Co who is fighting charges of financial misconduct, after more than three months in detention, Ghosn's lawyer said.

Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported that bail for Ghosn, who has been in custody at a detention centre in Tokyo, was set at 1 billion yen (R127m), and that he could be released as early as Tuesday.

Ghosn has been in custody since his initial arrest in late November over allegations he under-reported his compensation at Nissan for nearly a decade through 2018. He also has been charged with aggravated breach of trust.

The ex-chairman of Nissan, Mitsubishi Motors Corp and France's Renault SA has denied wrongdoing.

The court decision comes a day after the head of Ghosn's newly appointed legal team, said he was optimistic the detained executive could win bail with a promise to submit to surveillance.

Ghosn has proclaimed his innocence, claiming that Nissan executives opposed to his plans for closer ties with automaking partner Renault SA resorted to "plot and treason" to disrupt them and were behind the financial misconduct allegations against him.

Ghosn must remain in Japan under his bail conditions.

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