Carlos Ghosn arrested again, vows he 'will not be broken' www.cnn.com
Hong Kong (CNN Business)Ousted Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn was arrested again in Tokyo Thursday, less than a month after he was released on bail.
Prosecutors entered the auto executive's home in the Japanese capital and rearrested him "on suspicion of aggravated breach of trust," according to Japanese broadcaster NHK.
The former chairman of car makers Nissan (NSANF) and Renault (RNLSY) was released on bail in early March after spending 108 days in custody.
Prosecutors suspect he misappropriated Nissan funds for personal use, according to NHK. Tokyo prosecutors did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
One of the most prominent figures in the global auto industry, Ghosn is awaiting trial on charges he understated his income for years and abused his position by transferring personal investment losses to Nissan. He denies those charges.
"My arrest this morning is outrageous and arbitrary," Ghosn told CNN Business via a spokesperson. "It is part of another attempt by some individuals at Nissan to silence me by misleading the prosecutors. Why arrest me except to try to break me? I will not be broken. I am innocent of the groundless charges and accusations against me."
The arrest comes just a day after Ghosn took to Twitter, vowing to "tell the truth" behind his shocking downfall at a press conference next week.
Renault unveiled new allegations against Ghosn on Wednesday, claiming that expenses incurred by its former CEO and chairman involved "questionable and concealed practices" that violated its ethics rules. It also announced Ghosn's resignation from its board.
Nissan report denounces corporate culture that 'deified' Carlos Ghosn
Ghosn's downfall and prolonged detention shocked the international car industry, created tensions between Nissan and Renault, and raised questions about Japan's criminal justice system.
Since Ghosn's first arrest in Tokyo on November 19, he has been ousted from his role as the head of Nissan, Renault and Mitsubishi Motors, which he had brought together to form the world's largest car-making alliance.
Nissan declined to comment on Ghosn's latest arrest. A spokesman referred CNN Business to an earlier statement claiming its own investigation into Ghosn "has uncovered substantial evidence of blatantly unethical conduct."
Published Date:2019-04-04