Carlos Ghosn offers electronic tagging and holdings in Nissan in bid to overturn bail refusal
Carlos Ghosn has volunteered to wear an electronic ankle tag and hire security to keep watch on him in a last ditch attempt to secure bail after being imprisoned in Japan for alleged financial misconduct.
The ousted Nissan chairman has also offered to post stock he owns in the company as collateral and hand over his passports as part of his second attempt to persuade Tokyo District Court to grant him bail.
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A spokeswoman for Ghosn said he is willing to offer a higher bail fee and remain in a Tokyo apartment leased by his family, after his first request for bail was rejected because he was seen as a flight risk.
“I remain imprisoned in the detention centre, 64 days after I was arrested, with no release in sight,” Ghosn said in a statement. “As the Court considers my bail application, I want to emphasise that I will reside in Japan and respect any and all bail conditions the Court concludes are warranted.”
Ghosn’s release would mean he could meet his lawyers more often and defend himself before Renault’s board, where he is still chairman, after repeated calls for his dismissal.
He denies all charges of financial misconduct as he awaits a trial, which he said he would attend “not only because I am legally obligated to do so, but because I am eager to finally have the opportunity to defend myself”.
“I am not guilty of the charges against me and I look forward to defending my reputation in the courtroom.”
In December Renault said it would keep Ghosn as chairman and chief executive after its preliminary investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing.
Chief operating officer Thierry Bollore has taken over the day-to-day running of the car manufacturer during Ghosn’s detention.
Read more: Renault board to meet as chairman Ghosn faces fresh financial misconduct charges
But the French government, which holds a 15 per cent stake in Renault, has ramped up its hunt to find a new chairman, according to Reuters.
Renault interim chairman Philippe Lagayette has denied reports of division among board members over Ghosn’s future at the company.