Former Nissan head Carlos Ghosn will appear in a Tokyo court after his lawyer requested that an open hearing be held to disclose the reason for the 64-year olds detention lasting one and a half months.
This will be Ghosn’s first public appearance since his arrest on November 19 by Japanese prosecutors on suspicion of understating his earnings in financial documents submitted to Japanese regulators. He is also detained on a fresh allegation of transferring personal investment losses to Nissan in the past.
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Japanese prosecutors seek court permission to detain individuals while suspects and their lawyers can ask courts to hold hearings to offer explanations regarding why detentions have been approved.
This came as Ghosn’s current detention period is set to end on Jan. 11 when prosecutors must decide whether or not to indict him for alleged breach of trust.
The confinement of Ghosn, credited with saving Nissan when it was on the verge of bankruptcy in the late 1990s, sparked criticism from foreign nations, particularly France, over the possibility that his detention is being prolonged indefinitely and the absence of lawyers during interrogations. This has been cited as normal in Japan.
The district court accepted his defense counsel’s request to extend his hospital stay by a week until Jan. 11, 2019 last Friday. He will undergo surgery early next week. It is also possible that he and his lawyers will petition for a longer stay depending on his condition after the surgery.
Reference: Ghosn to appear in Tokyo court on Tues. to hear reason for detention
