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Ghosn, Kelly appear in court; lawyer asks why Saikawa wasn't indicted

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So why hasn't Saikawa been detained for possibly using Nissan money to purchase a house? How is his situation any different than Ghosn, other than the amount of money involved?

He's Japanese.

31 ( +35 / -4 )

Quick answer: He is Japanese , double standards in Japan.

28 ( +31 / -3 )

It appears Saikawa has also been helping himself to Nissan's cash in order to buy a house. Unlike Ghosn, Saikawa remains free to destroy evidence.

26 ( +28 / -2 )

So why hasn't Saikawa been detained for possibly using Nissan money to purchase a house? How is his situation any different than Ghosn, other than the amount of money involved?

24 ( +26 / -2 )

Saikawa's attitute is so typically Japanese (I saw it happen many times in my office too): making it other people's fault in order not to pay consequences, pretending not to know anything.

"I didn't know, I didn't see..." when he obviously knew and saw (how could he not?).

24 ( +25 / -1 )

Carlos wearing a Saville Row pinstripe, walking with intent. Excellent. Go get ‘em.

23 ( +26 / -3 )

It's a good question. I suspect the answer will be in the form of not an answer.

22 ( +23 / -1 )

Ghosn, Kelly appear in court; lawyer asks why Saikawa wasn't indicted

I think it is a fair question.

Why wasn't Saikawa indicted? Certainly the foreign press should demand answers.

Are a few more details too much too ask?

22 ( +23 / -1 )

A complaint has been filed alleging Saikawa violated the financial instruments law by being aware that Ghosn's remuneration was underreported when he was Nissan chief.

So, now we all know who the 'unnamed' weasel was who pointed fingers at Ghosn in the first place.

21 ( +25 / -4 )

Don't think prosecutors thought this through at all. I would guess the rat did a deal and defence lawyers are calling it. Where is this secret internal report that started this all? What have prosecutors found other than no confession? Truly a bizarre and non professional example of Japanese law in action.

21 ( +21 / -0 )

Without thinking deeply, saikawa ???. Saikawa reads , write and speak Japanese...................he did not think deeply ???.is this the level of a C.E.O of a public company ???. Some thing is very wrong here, This is crimanal act definately. Nissan share-holders, sell yr stocks, because for sure , the stocks u are holding will be worth nothing very soon.

21 ( +23 / -2 )

This is interesting. Because their actions against Saikawa, this should mean Kelly is exonerated.

Kelly was accused on signing off on Ghosn’s actions.

20 ( +20 / -0 )

If Ghosn gets any time at all and Saikawa gets a walk, this should enrage the foreign community.

To anyone who has ever worked at a J company It seems totally absurd that a second in command, let's just call him "Saikawa" would not have been aware of a non-Japanese-speaking leader doing nefarious book work.

20 ( +22 / -2 )

Well, now that it's officially out of the bag, it should make it easier for the Nissan board to ouster Saikawa if they keep losing profits!

18 ( +19 / -1 )

Its good to see Ghosn without a police escort or anything. They had been treating him like he was a serial killer with no bail and whatnot. I am surprised he has not fled Japan. I would have. I would offer them a net conference trial and that's it. They sure know how to work a rail road in this country.

18 ( +20 / -2 )

Is Ghosn allowed to see his wife again? Surprised this was not mentioned.

18 ( +19 / -1 )

It is simply incedulous to think that Ghosn could have pulled this "crime of the century" off. The guy has absolutely no written Japanese ability.

He was fed documents daily with no thought that the delivery was a toxic industrial assassination in the making.

18 ( +18 / -0 )

Sakaiwa is as guilty as the day is long. He’s guilty of the same accusations as Ghosn. He should be in a cell. Obviously, Sakaiwa was the one who pointed fingers at Ghosn to gain indemnity. Let the real Japan shine through. Japan is as corrupt as the day is long.

16 ( +20 / -4 )

Geez... I wonder why Ghosn was charged and Saikawa not... hmmm... can't possibly have anything to do with nationality. I mean, Japanese always try and punish their own when they are responsible for corruption, right?

12 ( +14 / -2 )

Ghson have been living in Japan for so long even he knew law you don't violate not to said he have so much money what the big deal he wouldn't do any illegal .Except he did not expect the Japanese company system are so corrupt the board try to rid of him permanently by framing him which he probably didn't expect from a civil society like Japan especially higher up in company .

11 ( +12 / -1 )

We REALLY need a Wikileaks in this country! A Japanese Assange, brave enough to reveal stuff!

11 ( +13 / -2 )

Here’s the chessboard right now. Japan’s looking to make China look bad through the Senkaku islands row. It’s seeking world sympathy through the Rugby and Olympics they’re about to sponsor this and next year. It’s looking for international sympathy because of 40 years ago kidnapees still being held in North Korea. Russia is still not giving it its islands back, etc. Yet it treats foreign businessmen like undesirables when their own executives get Carte Blanche and don’t get incriminated for similar acts. We could add things like snubbing the whaling and dolphin problems but lets stop here. Let’s use the international community when it benefits us, but slam them if they don’t bend to our rules.

10 ( +13 / -3 )

"This entire fiasco is a shot across the bow, warning that big Japanese companies are to be run by Japanese CEOs."

Well, one of the dominant ideologies of modern Japan has been techno-nationalism or (in my opinion) the more accurate "ethno-economics." In this framework, the economic achievements of Japan are explicitly linked to the achievements of the Japanese ethnic group. The economic success of Japan is therefore attributed to some mystical, almost intangible "Japanese work ethic" or "Japanese spirit."

Of course, pseudo-scientific thinking like this has been and in some cases is still prevalent in other economically successful societies. In the U.S., for a long time I'm sure that country's economic success was attributed by some to the Protestant or "Anglo-Saxon" work ethic. But such arguments eventually became discredited in the U.S. as it became clear that being Protestant or of Anglo-Saxon background had very little to with determining how hard or how diligently people worked. Time will tell whether or not a similar decoupling of economic success from an ethnically/racially bounded understanding of that economic success occurs in Japan. If Ghosn lacks and has always lacked the Japanese work ethic or Japanese spirit, then I suppose Nissan should have crashed and burned shortly after Ghosn became CEO 20 years ago. But that didn't happen.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

It appears Saikawa has also been helping himself to Nissan's cash in order to buy a house. Unlike Ghosn, Saikawa remains free to destroy evidence.

..... and so is his wife.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

This entire fiasco is a shot across the bow, warning that big Japanese companies are to be run by Japanese CEOs.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

@talaraedokko ...good points, spot on there and well summarised.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Its no longer a matter of whether Ghosn is a Crook or not, it's about the Japanese Legal system. What has transpired, has the makings of a wonderful Documentary/Movie that follows the Corrupt Political & Legal system , which is being manipulated by the OB network. Of course, with the recent Laws concerning "National Security" being put in place, no one in their right mind would make such a Documentary, let alone publish it.... even if its true.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

“Without thinking” of course will be acceptable. Next time be careful Saikawa. Case closed for 最下和.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Selective justice!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Saikawa, who succeeded Ghosn as president and chief executive officer in April 2017, told investigators that he signed a company document regarding payment to Ghosn after his retirement "without thinking deeply" because he considered the matter already agreed between Ghosn and Kelly, according to different sources familiar with the matter.

So Saikawa is trying to avoid criminal prosecution with that statement however it clearly demonstrates his lack of due diligence in performing his duties. He should be immediately dismissed by the Board after making this ridiculous statement. It is unbelievable he even had the audacity to say such a thing.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Saikawa ... told investigators that he signed a company document regarding payment to Ghosn after his retirement "without thinking deeply" ...

The "without thinking deeply" defense seems to work well for Japanese (“How honorable for him to demonstrate remorse”). Not so well for non-Japanese (“A crime is a crime is a crime.").

3 ( +5 / -2 )

LB315Today  03:20 am JST

"I mean I get it,........"

Actually you don't get it.

Most commenters on here, not all but most, who appear to be on the side of Ghosn, do so because of the perceived injustices, incongruities and inconsistencies wielded by the prosecutors, Saikawa et al.

Whether he is guilty or not of criminal acts will be determined in the future by a court of law.

One does not have to express love and devotion to a person in order to ask him/her to be justly treated in this, the 21st C in an advanced nation.

What's difficult to understand - to get - about that?

3 ( +5 / -2 )

saikawa is not a baby, he knows what he is doing. what do u think carlos is....................the big bad wolf ???.

in a disney movie???. Pls get real people. The old japanese with bad gaijin stereo boss ttype of ways do not work here. That system gave been long over.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

This case is vs Carlos Ghosn

Yeah, but the headline says:

lawyer asks why Saikawa wasn't indicted

Hence, you'd expect Saikawa to be a big focus of the comments.

(can I have my fee now, Mr. G?)

2 ( +2 / -0 )

That fact that many posters here do not understand why Saikawa was no indicted is because they've never seen a corporate coup before. Saikawa is the impresario of this whole thing. Saikawa seized power and now everyone fears him. Again, I exclaim, Ghosn never needed Nissan's money. He always had plenty of his own.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

So why hasn't Saikawa been detained for possibly using Nissan money to purchase a house? How is his situation any different than Ghosn, other than the amount of money involved?

Uhhh . . . The answer is painfully obvious: Sailawa is Jaoanese.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

What the heck annoys you all this much? about the one who could possibly be a yes-man but, one day, decided to reverse the flag and act for the justice?????

Answer: He is a Japanese and the crook is not.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

human error could happen but just don't underestimate Japan's special investigation unit.

They don't move unless they are sure.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@showchinmono, The "yes man" is a CEO of an international corporation. Don't you see the irony there?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

It's not because Saikawa is Japanese that he gets off free. I don't know if it's ever been disclosed but, I bet Saikawa is the one that collected the evidence and went to the authorities.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

MrHeiseiToday  12:47 am JST

If part of your defense is to ask why someone else wasn’t also convicted, then you don’t really have a strong defense... quite childish and sad, really.

Indeed. Why no posters here don't bring up your usual phrase: Two wrongs don't make a right!!

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Funny how everyone here is on Ghosn's side. It must be a racial thing!! Ghosn must be right and Saikawa wrong?

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

@Joe Yan, Funny how everyone here is on Ghosn's side. It must be a racial thing!!

Yes, us Asian-hating Lebanese. (Sigh, major eye roll)

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

I think that Ghosn has hired an internet army to troll social networks and news to try to defend himself and plea the innocent and wronged gaijin. Supplement that with his lawyer pleading to the international press and his wife occasionally reaching out to foreign politicians...

This has nothing to do with Saikawa or anybody else - if that does turn into a different case then so be it...

This case is vs Carlos Ghosn and from the snippets of info leaked so far, the prosecution look to have a pretty damming case against him.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

If part of your defense is to ask why someone else wasn’t also convicted, then you don’t really have a strong defense... quite childish and sad, really.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Ghosn asked judge why Saikawa wasn't indicted.

Judge's reply: Look in the mirror...

-7 ( +7 / -14 )

All you Saikawa haters here criticizing him, have you guys ever worked at a company? When you know your boss is doing something wrong or illegal, it's not easy to just come out and do something about it. Easy to say, hard to do. You always fear for reprisal, you fear for your job. Especially if your boss is so almighty and famous. Very understandable. You basically have to go along with it, not rock the boat, collect evidence and wait for a chance to bring it to light and right the wrong, and that's what he did. He's a hero for saving Nissan and Renault from that crook. That's why he doesn't get touched.

When are you guys going to wake up? After all that pleading, nobody, nobody, NOBODY comes to Ghosn's aid.

-10 ( +3 / -13 )

Ghosn told Saikawa to just shut up and sign the damn papers. So coward of Ghosn to now blame him, "why did you let me do those things??"

-12 ( +2 / -14 )

I mean I get it, that to you guys, Ghosn is a fellow expat, and you feel the camaraderie of having to endure the harsh life in Japan being a foreigner (sarcasm), so you sympathize with him. Well if life there is that tough, go back to your own countries. If you're from the US, go back and pay into the Social Security system where you will get a lot better return than if you spent your lifetime working in Japan. Nobody is forcing you to be there. You want to be there so stop it with playing the victim in Japan. Stop sympathizing (empathize?) with that crook just because you feel the bond. Believe me, he doesn't know you guys even exist and don't care. He's a multimillionaire tycoon.

-12 ( +3 / -15 )

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