Ghosn’s Jail Time Extended to April 22

A district court in Tokyo has given prosecutors until April 22 to formalize new charges of financial wrongdoing against former Nissan Motor Co. Chairman Carlos Ghosn.

Ghosn was arrested for the fourth time on April 4, ending his release on $9 million bail five weeks earlier after 108 days in jail. He already faces charges of failing to report $82 million in deferred compensation and transferring personal financial trading losses to the company.

Prosecutors claim Ghosn also diverted some $5 million in corporate funds for his personal use. He denies any wrongdoing. He blames his incarceration on a plot by Nissan executives to oust him and block a would-be merger between the company and alliance partner Renault SA.

Ghosn’s defense team blasts his latest arrest as an “illegal” attempt to interrupt his defense preparation and force him into a confession. They also objected to a search of his apartment during the arrest, in which they confiscated memos detailing discussions between Ghosn and his defense lawyers.