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Ghosn’s trial to be delayed possibly until next year: media
TOKYO, April 27, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn’s
trial, which was expected to begin in September, will be delayed, local media
said Saturday, hinting that it may not start this year.
The 65-year-old tycoon, currently on bail, is preparing for his trial on
four charges of financial misconduct ranging from concealing part of his
salary from shareholders to syphoning off Nissan funds for his personal use.
The Tokyo District Court had proposed to start his trial in September
during its pre-trial meetings with his defence lawyers and prosecutors, news
reports said, quoting unnamed sources.
But the court told the lawyers and prosecutors on Friday that it had
retracted the plan without proposing a new time frame, Kyodo News said,
adding that the move could mean the trial will not start this year.
The court also decided not to separate the trial for Ghosn, his close aide
Greg Kelly and Nissan — all indicted on the charge of violating the
financial instruments law by underreporting Ghosn’s compensation, according
to Kyodo.
His lawyers have so far demanded he be tried separately from Nissan and
have voiced fears he will not receive a fair trial.
The Sankei Shimbun also said prosecutors gave up filing an appeal to the
Supreme Court against his bail, a move to erasing a chance of his return to
jail unless he is arrested again on fresh charges.
Immediate confirmation of the news reports was not available.
On Thursday, Ghosn exited his Tokyo detention centre after accepting bail
of $4.5 million under strict conditions, including restrictions on seeing his
wife.
His case has captivated Japan and the business community with its multiple
twists and turns, as well as shone a spotlight on the Japanese justice system
which critics say is overly harsh.
Ghosn denies all the charges, with a spokesperson for the executive saying
on Monday he would “vigorously defend himself against these baseless
accusations and fully expects to be vindicated”.
In a statement hours after his release, Ghosn said: “No person should ever
be indefinitely held in solitary confinement for the purpose of being forced
into making a confession.”
The dramatic case has thrown international attention onto the Japanese
justice system, derided by critics as “hostage justice” as it allows
prolonged detention and relies heavily on suspects’ confessions.
BSS/AFP/GMR/1034 hrs