Ghosn Back in Jail, Tokyo Court Approves 10-day Detention
Carlos Ghosn is back in jail and a Tokyo court just approved a request by prosecutors to detain him for 10 days of additional questioning. Despite already spending 108 days in prison and scrounging up $9 million for bail a month ago, the court rejected an appeal by the former auto executive’s lawyer to set him free so he can prepare for his financial misconduct case.
This makes it Ghosn’s fourth arrest since November, and has us asking what purpose it serves.
According to Reuters, the Tokyo District Court said it approved a request by prosecutors to detain Ghosn until April 14th. Ghosn was re-arrested at his Tokyo apartment on Thursday. Prosecutors claim they acted on the suspicion that the former Nissan Motor and Renault head attempted to “enrich himself to the tune of $5 million at Nissan’s expense.”
It’s an odd decision, especially considering it’s not exactly new information, and is likely to place further global scrutiny on the Japanese legal system. Initially, we assumed the court was acting in response to Ghosn’s new Twitter account — which he used as way to profess his innocence. The highly restrictive bail agreement is supposed to prohibit the ex-CEO from accessing the internet.
Ghosn’s last Twitter post indicated he planned to hold a press conference on April 11th in which he would “tell the truth” about what’s been going on. His latest detainment will make that a problem, something his lawyer claims is intentional.
Prosecutors also reportedly confiscated the passport and mobile phone of Mr. Ghosn’s wife during his most-recent arrest. The man himself later appealed to the French government for help. “I call on the French government to defend me, and to defend my rights as a citizen,” he pleaded.
It’s more than a little fishy. However, it is not outside the confines of Japanese law. Prosecutors are allowed another 10 days of detention before they’re required to bring up formal charges or cut suspects loose. But Ghosn has already been charged and the new accusations don’t sound very different from the old ones.
[Images: Nissan]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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Japan is upholding their own laws. Global scrutiny means very little, they don't care and there are no consequences of displeasing the amnesty international types. Ghosn has defrauded multiple companies it seems. His pampered wife and kids going on a sympathy tour, because they don't have free access to a company yet has no impact on me.
Japan is going all out commy like S. Korea. Their stock markets been stagnant for almost 30 yrs. Improper govt investments into robotics. Large corporations profits, the GPD backbone, losing market share to Korean competitors. Overaged population where 60% have blue collar jobs making ramen or driving a cab. Lost decade of people growing up into a lost generation. Japan's govt rebuilding it's country and army via patriostism, aka communism(armistice with Russian islands). Ghosn was the first ever non-japanese person to receive honorary citizenship for saving so many Nissan jobs, 10yrs down the road he's getting the boot out without severance. Japan is taking back what they think is theirs and making a statement about it. Setting an example is how I see it.