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Ghosn's legal woes highlight governance failings in Japan

80 Comments
By Yuri Kageyama

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Most average people on the street, businessmen, and even people who are in finances like accountants (I’m not making this up) that have talked to me about it and are quite convinced that he must have done something wrong.

I’m Japanese even though I don’t look it, and I’ve been bringing up the timing of it all as odd.

I also remind them that in Japan top guys don’t go to jail or get in trouble in general. Aren’t we supposed to send an underling to just bow and say sorry?

This is kind of pulling the race card, and I do get a lot of raised eyebrows, but cmon, Kobe steel, Panasonic, Air bags...this is much worse than underreporting income.

My point is if Ghosn was Japanese, he may be in a spa at this point.

38 ( +40 / -2 )

For years and years I've met people that are new to Japan.... and all of them have this star struck impression of the Japanese being clean, polite, and honest. I'll give them clean... no doubt, and I'll give them polite, but honest? Well I'll say that the average Japanese person is extremely honest, but when you get into business, some of the things that happens here, especially embezzlement and shady pay practices along with false data..... well, that is rampant here. There is a massive dirty underbelly here that few foreigners have any clue about.

31 ( +32 / -1 )

If the guy was underreporting income and the government was "unaware" then they were probably in on it. "Follow the money..."

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Ghosn's visitors have bought him a mattress, clothing, cheese and other foods to make his stay under the frugal conditions in the detention center more comfortable. 

Let's see, he isn't allowed to see anyone (supposedly) besides his lawyer, he cant see family and friends, so I guess this "visitor" is his lawyer?

Until I read this I was under the impression that people who are detained for custody are treated pretty much like an actual prisoner. Learn something new everyday!

7 ( +10 / -3 )

So then, do we now have to explain what lawyers, cameras, and evidence are for? Japanese aren't listening

21 ( +22 / -1 )

From what I've read, Ghosn was possibly on the verge of merging Nissan with Renault, which may have proven to be quite negative for Nissan's upper management. Nissan then went with their "poison pill", the pill, would hurt Nissan too, but it would allow the company to survive as a Japanese entity. And check this out.... when that is at stake, the idea that a traditional Japanese company might be run by foreigners, well then no matter how dirty the deed, as long as it remains a Japanese company, anything would be forgiven. This is the dirtiest, most underhanded, move I've ever seen a company make in broad daylight.

27 ( +28 / -1 )

Ghosn reigned over Nissan too long and nobody could talk back to him. Power corrupts without exception.

-21 ( +5 / -26 )

"Wait a minute. Who wrote the financial statements? The accountants. Who audited them? The auditors," Christopher Richter, auto analyst for CLSA Securities Japan Co, said of the case. "How do you do this without other people being complicit?"

Bingo.

Race aside, Ghosn doesn't cut a pretty figure. He looks like an evil Arab prince from a Disney movie.

I don't think you know what "aside" means.

22 ( +22 / -0 )

One of the biggest mysteries surrounding the arrest of Nissan's former chairman Carlos Ghosn is over how he allegedly could have underreported his income by millions of dollars for years and why the company is going after the suspected wrongdoing now.

Dear Yuri Kageyama - This is quite obvious to the foreign business community in Japan. Also, from talking to many Japanese (middle age and many are quite conservative) it is becoming quite obvious to them to. I am guessing there is a so-called "silent majority" of Japanese people that can see right through what Nissan is doing as well. We all believe that if Ghosn is guilty of something he should be punished but so should those inside of Nissan who aided and abetted this.

In addition to the governance failings this has also highlighted the woefully outdated and strange justice system.

Japan has been my home and will continue to be for some time however this whole issue has caused me to lose a tremendous amount of respect for Japan.

I would have thought people would have learned something from the numerous other scandals including the Olympus scandal but it appears not to be the case.

19 ( +20 / -1 )

The longer this goes on the more awkward questions are asked the more panicked lame excuses are given about governance, the legal syste, prosecutors motives and eventually the government will get involved as it fends off the international spot light. Not the best press to be getting before two international events drawing extra media attention from around the world. Don't think they thought about this too much before locking him up and relying on getting a quick confession. Now they need to find proof of a crime, that so far seems beyond their capacity.

15 ( +15 / -0 )

I am quite convinced that Ghosn’s alliance and merger with Renault is 100% why this happened.

He was and is popular. A lot of people I know have had their Nissan stocks nearly quadruple in value over time.

But he got too powerful and was about to merge a traditional Japanese powerhouse firm with a foreign one. Nissan were going to be the minority stakeholders.

The big boys decided that Nissan will not become french, and as for the gaijin....well how dare he!

21 ( +22 / -1 )

There are four lights!

6 ( +6 / -0 )

"Wait a minute. Who wrote the financial statements? The accountants. Who audited them? The auditors," Christopher Richter, auto analyst for CLSA Securities Japan Co, said of the case. "How do you do this without other people being complicit?"

exactly. blame it on the foreigner. Even when the foreigner is the whistleblower, still blame it on the foreigner.

12 ( +14 / -2 )

And now to the dirty political connections..... how the heck did Nissan influence Japan's National Police to keep Ghosn locked up for so long? Did Nissan pull some political strings in order to make this happen.... they definitely did. This was not just Nissan, this was a coordinated move using Politicians to pull strings at the National Police Dept. This will turn into a massive scandal once all the pieces have been put together. There is no doubt that Ghosn and Kelly are being kept behind bars long enough for Nissan and Mitsubishi to sever all ties to any possible merger with Renault.

19 ( +21 / -2 )

I have to thank Nissan & Co for presenting me with such a great negative example for my compliance presentation.

Corruption, conflict of interest, lack of financial integrity and many more problems all in there.

Easy money〜♪

18 ( +18 / -0 )

Nissan is a Japan's defense industry as well. The company was a main producer of the imperial army tanks and other military vehicles. I think they build JSDF military vehicles. That may be a one reason behind this issue.

-11 ( +3 / -14 )

Ghosn is asserting his innocence, insisting he always wanted his income reports to be legal and denying he signed secret documents.

where are those documents? present them for the public to see.

Prosecutors have refused to comment.

why?

10 ( +11 / -1 )

"If Nissan knew about this all along and decided to pull the trigger, such Machiavellian tactics will significantly backfire on the brand," Schiffer said.

Welcome to a day in the life of the Japanese professional world...

14 ( +15 / -1 )

. "Nissan deserves criticism for having allowed this to continue unchecked for so long."

ABSOLUTELY.

There are a lot of the Nissan executives that must have colluded with this

Heads will roll once the data is exposed.

However, it would seem likely that they assented to Ghosn's demand .

The key is where / from whom did the demand / the plan/ the scheme originate?

Who initially hatched the idea? And then, who helped implement it?

The problem here was that the pay was significant, in line with global standards, but the way it was decided was still so Japanese," he said of Nissan's lack of transparency

That's the question.

In 2016 Ghosn defied the Renault shareholders who voted AGAINST his demand for a raise.

However, in spite of majority vote against it, Ghosn gave himself 8.5 million Euro.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Aly Rustom:

Possibly the prosecution is still in the "Discovery" phase of the case.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Detainees usually sleep on straw tatami mats and are fed mostly rice, soup and vegetables.

Typical Japanese lifestyle.

-10 ( +1 / -11 )

The major issue of the legal system in Japan, as well as the entire way of governance and institutions is the lack of separation of powers, and checks and balances. Simply put, there are no competing sides, there is just one side that roles you over. The Japanese legal system creates incentives to prosecute. The entire system is designed to have you prosecuted. The only thing on their mind is to have you prosectued and put in jail. The issue is not that this side of the system exist, but that it's the only side of the system. In America for example, the system is adversarial and based on the principle of competing sides. The police in America, just like the police in Japan have only one thing in mind - to have you prosecuted, and they too lie and deceit to push their case and have you prosecuted, but the way the system is desgined in America gives the other side equal power, and this is what is lacking in Japan. The prosecutors, the police and the judges are all on the same side, the entire system is against you, there is no separation of powers to help you.

12 ( +14 / -2 )

They must be pissed as hell that Ghosn is fighting back and refusing to sign a confession like most "typical" criminals! The guy has lived here long enough and has an expensive legal team at his disposal, so he won't be forced into admitting wrongdoing so the prosecution must be really sweating now since they usually don't want to go to trial without that confession since a "proper" prosecution will probably dig up a lot of skeletons that Nissan probably would rather keep secret. It'll be interesting to see what happens.

As a bonus it's also highlighting the archaic Japanese legal system in the process to the outside world!

16 ( +17 / -1 )

This entire thing stinks like a toddlers soiled nappy! Methinks the new guy at Nissan had the forethought of a gnat unless he was assured by government and prosecutors and police that there would be no other repercussions against Nissan other than Kelly and Ghosn! If that does actually come to pass then one can assume correctly that a complicit alliance between Nissan and the various government agencies here, as every suspects, did indeed exist.

The message here is simple. Japanese companies will partner with you so long as their company remains Japanese and Japanese run but its ok if we take you over. They are forgetting though that they were an abject failure prior to Ghosn and his knowhow. The message to foreign firms is as simple Let the Japanese company fail first and then take it over holding all the cards. They can choose bankruptcy or takeover. I suspect though they would rather close the door and let it sink than a foreigner take it over and make it a success. And that there folks is their weakness their inability and refusal to compromise in the face of failure because of pride. Pride isn't called the root of all evil for nothing!

I am also very suspect of the French Government in all of this as they seem to have rolled over and are currently faking death in all of this. I any case, when Ghosn gets out he is going to know exactly who is friends are and who isn't and for somebody like him thats gonna be priceless!

12 ( +13 / -1 )

Possibly the prosecution is still in the "Discovery" phase of the case.

you're right but that doesn't explain why they haven't commented on nor produced some supposed secret documents that he supposedly signed. It stinks.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

They must be pissed as hell that Ghosn is fighting back and refusing to sign a confession like most "typical" criminals!

Ghosn arrest has coverage from both domestic and international news so I don't think they will use same severe methods as they use to ordinary suspect.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

@SaikoPhyscoToday it's prosecutor, from the beginning until now.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Nissan Motor Co and Mitsubishi have ousted him as chairman; the board of Renault SA of France says it's waiting for more evidence.

Evidence? No, you should wait verdict from the court. Still it's better than just using accusation to remove Ghosn from his position like Nissan and Mitsubishi did.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

The whistle blower, and there's now three ! Are cheap plea barginers, with no real legal or financial understanding, just scared, unlike Carlos Ghosn who will stand up to this attempt to discredit him, in court !

8 ( +8 / -0 )

@Ilovecoffee,

your 100% correct. I think its deep rooted in Confucius values or feudal Japan, as to not make any disruption and just accept your guilt and be done with it. There is the concept of all parties agreeing on something, but when it comes to a foreigner, that concept is usually disregarded as your guilty because your a foreigner.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

I just wonder why many companies have so bad governance here? I guess their bad governance have been long time since their start.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

This Asia, but it happens all over the world.

dont know one first world country that keeps you detained in prison without charge , possible months on end if they can come up with new accusations to detain you.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

when Ghosn gets out he is going to know exactly who is friends are and who isn't and for somebody like him thats gonna be priceless! oh I hope he squeels and writes a book for the whole business world to read and show them what theyre getting themselves into if they invest in Japan.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Typical Japanese lifestyle.

kept in there homes for weeks unable to leave their homes until the police have something to charge them with, not really typical is it.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I love how the opening paragraph states it's a "mystery" when it's anything but. I can just see Japanese authorities saying, "Fushigi da ne. Shouganai." Then a bow, a shrug, and rinse, and repeat.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Ghosn, who headed the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Motors auto alliance, was arrested Nov 19 on suspicion he underreported his income by $44 million over five years

Ghosn has not underreported his income. The sums in question are retirement money that he has not yet received. Nobody else reports income they haven't received either.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

"Wait a minute. Who wrote the financial statements? The accountants. Who audited them? The auditors," Christopher Richter, auto analyst for CLSA Securities Japan Co, said of the case. "How do you do this without other people being complicit?"

Yeah exactly, fallacy and deflecting the REALITY of what should be done.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Nissan veteran Hiroto Saikawa, who took over from Ghosn as the automaker's chief executive last year, has harshly criticized his former boss and vowed to instill greater transparency and accountability at Nissan.

Saikawa, you belong to jail.

You had to immediately disclose to the shareholders the fact that there were irregularities in the financial statements by the Tokyo Stock Exchange regulations when you came to know the whistle blowing, which you did not.

You filed confirmation letter to the Financial Services Agency on November 12, 2018 just one week before Ghosn's arrest that there is no irregularity in Nissan's financial statements, which is nothing but a lie and a crime.

You still have not filed "revised" financial statements, which you should have done by now if, indeed, Ghosn made false financial statements.

Renault should demand Nissan's extraordinary shareholders' meeting as soon as possible to replace Nissan's corrupt directors. Otherwise, Nissan may buy Renault's shares and invalidates Renault's Nissan shares, as Japanese law says that if a company holds more than 25% of shares of its shareholder, the shareholder's shares in the company loses voting rights.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

A source familiar with an internal investigation by Nissan said the hidden salary was categorized as "deferred income," meaning it was promised for later on, such as after Ghosn's retirement, and the documents promising the money were kept secret from auditors and others. He spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to discuss such details.

What source?? what 'whistleblower' names, names names.. stop with the lies, please.. stop creating some mysterious nobody when again you are deflecting from the truth, the truth being this was all a setup to STOP the merger from being 100% complete which was about to go through the final month Carlos was still working at the companies.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

What I get from Ghosn’s treatment; not forgetting that he was the top of three massive car companies is that the criminal justice system in Japan is majorly defective!

What hope would any of us have dealing with it?

Scary.....

9 ( +9 / -0 )

@Educator - This is correct however this is only for securities filings and not for tax filings.

In this case Saikawa-san needs to swear these financial statements are correct when he gets out the hanko and affixes the seal. The internal auditor (also a Director) needs to do this as well.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Japanese omotenashi to foreigners when you get too involved.

I cannot speak openly about a case my never wrong manager (guess his nationality in Japan) suddenly and without reason stopped me to audit on site a specific subsidiary...

Good luck CG.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Not only in Japan, but everywhere in the world, top people/celebrities won't go to jail. It just becomes news for awhile and some pockets filled here and there, then so called interesting news just vanishes. Another news then are created to fill out the pocket s again.

So therefore, its just not in Japan, at least most average Japanese are good to rest of the world unlike the foreigners.

-15 ( +1 / -16 )

This is interesting. We can't see the truth from outside but it makes me think that many Japanese company have been trying to become global company and some of them are actually looked so from surface. But they might have not changed because maybe a lot of employee are still Japanese. Even Nissan.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

at least most average Japanese are good to rest of the world unlike the foreigners.

Really?

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Only Ghosn's attorneys and embassy officials from Lebanon, France and Brazil

Ghosn's family can visit but a guard must be in the visiting room with them, and they can only speak Japanese. The Embassy representative can only visit once every 30 days by law. Also, when items are brought to the prisoner, they are not always given to them right away. It is at the discretion of the guards with little more than high school education at best. There is a lot of shadiness that goes on. Only his attorney can visit him up to 9:00 without a guard present.

Most often the prosecution won't give the defense lawyer access to the information gathered by police unless the prisoner is willing to confess to something. See how that works? I hope Ghosn or Kelly right a book about their experience, and pour some light over this draconian system. Police don't know how to investigate, lawyers don't know how to defend, and the prosecutors and judges are all in the same building with offices close to each other.

It is a big scam!

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Whatever the points are , Carlos is not the account department in that company nor can he read & write Japanese, therefore, there are others that are bad Japanese, one of the is getting the lime-light every day after Carlos is implicated. Carlos was the ' fall guy ' set up by some bad Japanese.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

I do not understand why poor people like you support Ghosn so strongly.

-16 ( +0 / -16 )

I do not understand why poor people like you support Ghosn so strongly.

I think all us poor people are simply supporting the presumption of innocence and due process.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

I do not understand why poor people like you support Ghosn so strongly.

Maybe, they don't support Ghosn, but does support justice system and corporate system reform in Japan. People both abroad/native have noticed the double standard in this case. Japan wants other countries and cultures to behave fairly, but they should always get a pass because "This is Japan!" is nonsense.

This has never been a issue about elitism but about racism and nationalism.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

Any people that are not supporting Ghosn definitely do not have a fair sense of justice..... he is being held for a financial crime that affected no one other than himself. He did not go out and steal millions from other investors. In fact everything he did receive was given to him by Nissan themselves. His crime, if he actually did commit it, was tax evasion. You do not lock somebody up for weeks on end grilling him for a confession for that crime. Why... because the facts, the paper trail, will speak for itself. This is a travesty of justice just in that he's being held for so long.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

As an accountant, I can see why the Nissan BOD was upset at Ghosn. Nissan carried the majority of the profit generated and, as much as people on here love to denigrate Japanese big companies, if Nissan was generating the majority of the profit for the combined company, why was Renault literally making most of the decisions? Ghosn's attempt to consolidate power was met with resistance. Guess what? Most people would fight that if they (a) had the jobs at stake and/or (b) were not getting a fair shake.

The issue here is a power struggle, plain and simple and there are many of them all around the world. The Citicorp and Traveler's merged, Sandy Weill won a turf war/power struggle with John Reed for pretty much the exact same reason.

The Japanese twist to this boardroom power struggle is that Ghosn was put into jail. Having someone rat him out is nothing new at all - happens all the time in power struggles. The fact that someone used underreported income as a means of imprisoning Ghosn and - not surprisingly his American ally - is pretty much uniquely Japanese. In most power struggles, rumors about illicit marital affairs get leaked or DWI's get leaked. Getting into trouble with the tax authorities usually is met with a cheer from Americans. In Japan, it is met with gasps.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Mark Kappeles who is also a Frenchman and stole 750 Million from Mt Gox based in Tokyo did not spend a day in Jail, Harvey Weinstein-for obvious reasons, did not spend a day in jail, the list of all the old dinosaur CEOs in Japan who are highly corrupt-just read the news of all of this year and going into the new year..

So please explain why all these crooked powerful people who are guilty have not spent a day in Jail. Carlos is clearly INNOCENT hence why they are stalling him, as Saikawa is now flexing his muscle, sounds like a cliche Yakuza movie, the subordinate tries to defeat his boss..

6 ( +6 / -0 )

I do not have any qualm about Japan's judicial system since I have never troubled them as a good citizen. Have you?

-15 ( +0 / -15 )

Schopen

I think you are missing the point here, this is about human rights in general and the fact they are destroying the work and merger of what actually would essentially make Japanese workers within all 3 companies securely better, financial better and a stronger future for a company to be international and to be similar to GM in a sense, selling multiple brands under the one company.

Violating human rights regardless of race is doing just that, all for the sake of trying to destroy the merger, how silly is that.. think about the overall aspects on all angles and fronts.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

@Schopen

stay in Japan long enough, and your day will surely come. Whether it be a fight on the train, a spouse who manipulates the system to his/her advantage, to just being in the right place at the wrong time, it will happen if your a foreigner.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

Additionally exposing the media being a corporate speakerphone to the corrupt Saikawa..

6 ( +6 / -0 )

I do not understand why poor people like you support Ghosn so strongly.

many rich people started off poor, my first job was about $10,000 a year , and while I wouldnt class myself as rich I definetly better off that your average J citizen, through hard work. I support Ghoson becuase your innocent until proven guilty, if hes found guilt with irrefutable evidence then I most certainly wont be supproting him anymore, he can go to jail. What angers me most is that subordinates in your own company can make up some trumped charges and have you arrested and detained even if there is no concrete evidence to support their claims, while your detained they make changes so that you cannot come back to your company even if your cleared of any wrong doings. Having a justice system that facilitates this type of corporate coup d'état makes it even more enraging.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I do not have any qualm about Japan's judicial system since I have never troubled them as a good citizen. Have you?

I have never been troubled by them, but I have never threatened the status quo in Japan.

Whether charges are pressed against him or not, he has been ousted from Nissan and that was always the intention. He will not be re-appointed. After all, in Japan arrest carries the assumption of guilt in most people's eyes.

What is so pathetic is that the Board couldn't just raise a vote if no confidence against him but needed to have him arrested. He may be guilty but this is mostly about power.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

I do not have any qualm about Japan's judicial system since I have never troubled them as a good citizen. Have you?

Oh... You really believe that being a good citizen will keep you away from the judicial system? You think all people, every single person involved in the system guilty? What if say, a person gets pulled into a situation they do not start? What if say, a foreigner gets harrassed by a Japanese person then the police called? Do you really believe the police will approach the situation fairly? Yeah right... Foreigners are foreigners, 外人は外人だけ. Stereotypes are rife. You are guilty until proven innocent in Japan: fact. And the most interesting part: it is forbidden for lawyers to be present in the interview room with the police. You think they write everything objectively? Dream on. If you ever even get close to trouble in Japan, the police will rain on you, and your life may well be ruined, as it does happen, to many foreign and Japanese.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

oh I hope he squeels and writes a book for the whole business world to read and show them what theyre getting themselves into if they invest in Japan.

Like Michael Woodford did after he uncovered the Olympus scandal? All that happened to him was he got voted out as CEO and had to leave the country in fear of his life.

Corporate Japan closes ranks but the rest of the world doesn't learn. I don't remember Ghosn speaking out for Woodford at the time either for that matter.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

It would actually be interesting for Michael Woodford to come to Tokyo again and bring it to the medias attention again.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I was once in a J police station, the prefecture HQ sort, and was speaking English and a couple of J cops were chatting and one said in Japanese "why do foreigners live in this country?" he didnt think I could understand them because I was using English. after that and many other "incidents" I became woke. Dude as a gaijin here you have no rights.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

I dont bring no dropped wallet back to the koban no more, dont pick up old ladies that cant get up no more, none of that. I used to, then they turn on you. One obasan had fallen into the ditch, I gave her my arm, pulled her up then she slapped my arm and scooted off, never quite figured that one out. Trouble on the train, called the J translator at the police station, they said "be careful, many Japanese have a phobia about foreigner" I mean, what more proof do you need? I got many many more stories. If yours is all good, good on you, but I cant honestly say that without lying. Japanese people always get the benefit of the doubt.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Japanese people always get the benefit of the doubt.

and this is precisely why Japan will always struggle to integrate with the world , globalisation will make traveling abroad and foreigners access to Japan far easier in the future, those countries that refuse to adopt the smartest minds from around the world will suffer the most.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I , support the good Japanese and positive things that must happen for the future of the Japan. Why because as all of U can see...............betrayal of a 64 year old man is at stake. He helped a bankrupt company and his close co-worker betrayed him. This Japanese co-worker was sitting down, doing nothing but earning his salary & benefits free of charge on Carlos ship when Carlos was working to save him and everybody else. Now, Carlos & his family is suffering. If Carlos is your father or uncles or someone very close to U, how do u feel ???. Down with bad selfish Japanese. I & my husband ( who is Japanese ) are ashamed of this bad Japanese & Nissan. Think about the future of yourr working children, please.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I do not understand why poor people like you support Ghosn so strongly.

It is no longer a matter of whether or not you support Ghosn.

It is Japanese Law on trail now.

Law affects the rich and poor alike.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

The take-away from this on-going saga?

It is ok for Gaijin to manage a Japanese owned company. But absolutely NOT a-OK to own and to have bigger stake like the plan for Renault and French government to swallow Nissan!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

For me the elephant no one is talking about in this drama is Hiroto Saikawa. Even the media is keeping him from the lime light. He looks too snug in his new position. How much is he a deepthroat for the government. He’s too squeaky clean. Who’s pulling his strings? This has all the markings of a coup. Keep Ghosn away as the government secures the puppet regime.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

No one is saying he was paid too much, or not paying tax, or that he was leading the company in the wrong direction or making 10million bad cars affecting the Earth, they just say he was not reporting to shareholders, so why is Renault not cross ?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Japanese industry is Japanese lifeline, as important as Japanese govt. As long as Japanese PM isn't a foreigner, Japanese company should have their own CEOs.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Anyway it is obvious board room battle for power that way whoever upper hand teaches like in palace coup. Fact is till investigation without confession is called right investigation.confession thru coercion is no investigation sheer highhandedness. He seems right why he should sign illegal confession, obvious some one wants to make a big deal may be to steal from this man's legitimate income may be obvious jealousy may be one can suspect. so poor Japanese feel pity on this man. Laws seem not up to mark, fact is till an accused is proved guilty he is innocent is universal doctrine. so I think his defense ought to emphasize this one aspect very powerful way, that kind of Advocacy is the need of the hour, i believe, till the mens rea is proved how will you prove Actus rea?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Schopenhauer

I do not understand why poor people like you support Ghosn so strongly.

My sense of justice and my concern for human rights are far stronger than my envy of the super-rich.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I'm guessing the puppet masters may be beginning to sweat bullets since the confession they hoped would have been produced by now hasn't emerged. A grave miscalculation has been made, Carlos will not crack, one does not become the boss of 3 car manufacturers at the same time with out having some serious negotiating skills cut throat negotiating skills,  skills that are so on point ill bet the prosecutors are the ones being interrogated and they don't even know its happening.

So who is gonna take the fall next when they cant pin it on Carlos, and turns out that NISSAN is guilty!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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