Ghosn faces fresh arrest as Nissan fails to find new chairman
Former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn faces arrest on a fresh charge of understating his income in a move that could keep him in detention for the rest of the year.
Tokyo prosecutors plan to issue a new warrant for Ghosn on suspicion of underreporting roughly ¥4bn (£27.7m) of his salary over the last three years, local media reported today.
The disgraced executive has been in custody in Tokyo for over two weeks on suspicion of financial misconduct. In addition to the alleged underreported salary, investigators have probed the purchase of luxury houses for Ghosn’s personal use.
Prosecutors secured a 10-day extension to Ghosn’s imprisonment last week. But they plan to arrest the former chairman again when the extension ends, meaning he could be held in detention until 30 December, according to the Sankei newspaper.
Former representative director Greg Kelly, who was arrested alongside Ghosn, will also be held for the additional period, the newspaper said.
Japanese law dictates suspects can be held in custody for 10 days and can apply for a single 10-day extension, after which they must be charged or released.
However, suspects can be arrested on additional charges, meaning they can be held indefinitely if prosecutors secure court approval.
The reports come as Nissan board members today failed to nominate a new chairman, according to Kyodo News.
Nissan declined to comment on the reports.