Lawyers Request Separate Trial for Ghosn

Attorneys who represent former Nissan Motor Co. Chairman Carlos Ghosn assert he must be tried separately from Nissan on charges of financial wrongdoing.

Separately, Ghosn says he will hold a press conference on April 11 in Tokyo to “tell the truth” about his situation.

His lawyers have petitioned a court in Tokyo to grant Ghosn his own trial. Both he and the company are accused of failing to disclose some $82 million in deferred compensation for the ex-chairman. Ghosn was released on tightly restricted bail early last month.

Ghosn’s attorney Junichiro Hironaka tells reporters that forcing Ghosn to appear at the defense table with Nissan “would go against his right to a fair trial,” Reuters reports.

Hironaka also wants Ghosn’s trial separated from that of Greg Kelly, a Nissan director charged with helping to facilitate the financial wrongdoing. Hironaka says Kelly may be called as a witness in Ghosn’s defense.

Ghosn insists he is innocent of all charges, asserting that he followed proper procedures and cleared the disputed financial moves with Nissan’s management.