Detained former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn cleared the way for his release by paying $4.5 million in bail, the Tokyo District court said Thursday. However, his release will be limited under strict conditions.
Ghosn, 65, has been charged with under-reporting his post-retirement compensation and breach of trust in diverting Nissan money. He was arrested in November, released on bail in March but re-arrested in April on new allegations.
Prosecutors appealed the decision by the court earlier in the day to grant release on bail saying he may tamper with evidence or influence witnesses, however, Ghosn’s lawyers can protest the appeal and push for his release, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
The latest bail agreement follows $9 million in bail that Ghosn posted for his earlier release.
For that release, his defense team offered special conditions such installing a surveillance camera at the entrance to a specified residence and promising to use a cellphone and the internet only under specified conditions.
Meanwhile, the court said that the latest release requires similar restrictions, including not leaving the country.
According to AP, Ghosn led Nissan Motor Co. for two decades and was credited with steering the success of the global alliance with Renault SA of France and smaller Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors Corp.
For its part, Nissan lowered profit forecasts for the fiscal year through March for the second time Wednesday, acknowledging the downward revision reflected the fallout from the Ghosn scandal.
