Pretrial Hearings Begin for Ghosn Trial in Japan

The first pre-trial hearing kicked off in Tokyo earlier today concerning charges of financial wrongdoing by former Nissan Motor Co. Chairman Carlos Ghosn.

The trial itself isn’t likely to begin until 2020. Ghosn has been incarcerated in a Tokyo jail center since Nov. 15, except for a four-week release on bail in March. Ghosn, 65, denies any wrongdoing.

He faces two charges of under-reporting some 9 billion yen ($82 million) in deferred compensation in fiscal 2010-2014 and 2015-2017, Bloomberg News reports.

Ghosn also is accused of two counts of aggravated breach of trust. One claims he temporarily transferring 1.9 billion yen ($16.9 million) in personal investment losses to Nissan and used company funds to make illegal payment in Saudi Arabia.

The second breach of trust charge asserts that Ghosn shifted $5 million in Nissan funds to a dealership and then a company he controlled in Lebanon. The funds then allegedly were diverted to companies operated by Ghosn’s wife and son.

Today’s hearing focused on the latter two charges, which are considered the most serious. Local media say a hearing about the under-reported compensation complaints will be held on June 24. Pre-trial hearings, procedure begun in Japan 14 years ago, help streamline the trial itself by determining what evidence and testimony will be heard.