crime

Kelly: Ghosn's second-in-charge, now first in firing line

32 Comments
By Etienne Balmer

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© 2020 AFP

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.


32 Comments
Login to comment

I can't understand why the U.S. State Department has not intervened in this. Nissan conspired with prosecutors to lure a U.S. citizen to Japan on false pretenses. Surely that a violation of their extradition treaty? If not technically, then at least in spirit.. If they wanted Kelly arrested, they should have had a warrant issued in the U.S. and gone through the proper procedures.

23 ( +27 / -4 )

Very sad story.

22 ( +23 / -1 )

"Really, it was painful. Very, very painful," Kelly said, adding that he had tried to explain to wardens that he could not sit on the floor as required.

"sit on the floor as REQUIRED"???

Why was he being treated like a criminal while in detention and not convicted of any crime?

22 ( +26 / -4 )

His wife has to get a student visa so she can stay with her husband...…. come on Japan, the stone age was a long time ago, or was it...….

21 ( +28 / -7 )

With Ghosn out of the picture and likely not returning, I'm really hoping the Japanese (In)justice System doesn't take it all out on this guy.

20 ( +24 / -4 )

AND WHERE IS SAIKAWA!!! Caught doing the exact same thing that Kelly and Ghosn are accused of but he is free and even able to attend Nissan shareholder meetings. The injustice is clear to everyone except possibly the Japanese. I don't care anymore if they did anything wrong within Nissan. If the Japanese Justice system was brought in then they need to prosecute EVERYONE found to have done the same or similar not selectively pull out the foreigner! As Kelly himself says they were lured to Japan under false pretences to spring the trap. They (Saikawa inc) already knew they would be detained indefinitely pending a coerced confession to get what they wanted, if not, a rigged and already decided outcome would then finish them off and Nissan would be his. Except it didn't quite go that way and as a result Nissan has tanked which is ALL on Saikawa and his teeth sucking Yes men. So its rather fitting that the wheel turned so incredibly quickly with Nissans nosedive minus the very man who saved it. This entire debacle has placed Japan and yes its people too, in a very bad light indeed. Cant wait for someone to do a documentary or film on this, its gonna be a doozy. I bet Ghosn has already sold the rights...I know I would have.

I am pretty sure both Ghosn and Kelly secretly relish Nissans decline. I know I do openly as its absolute, in your face, instant cosmic Karma which is real justice and not the rubbish this place calls justice which by the way they have still not brought to trial. I wonder how much that has cost the Japanese tax payer. There really should be an independent probe into the prosecutors office as well as the ministry of justice into how this all came about and if there was any impropriety but I guess in Japan and many other places the government who makes the law is very often above it and immune to it.

14 ( +17 / -3 )

Nissan, still orchestrating their own downfall. They should just stop this charade and focus on crisis management while there are still stockholders hanging around.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

He said "I did not do anything wrong in Japan". Which, of course makes me wonder if he did anything wrong outside of Japan.

Even if he did, it would be none of the Japanese justice system's business.

Besides, that doesn't automatically mean that he did something wrong outside of Japan.

If I as a foreigner were arrested in Japan for a crime that I didn't commit, I would tell the cops, "I haven't broken any laws here."

That would not mean I was saying that I'd broken laws somewhere else.

13 ( +17 / -4 )

disgusting. More proof of Japan's ridiculous excuse of a justice system

12 ( +13 / -1 )

"For me, this could be resolved within Nissan. If it's an error about reporting something that was never agreed and never paid...," he said, tailing off and adding: "But you know, I'm caught in the system right now so..."

This is nothing compared to Olympus, Toshiba or recent Japan Post scandal. This one can be resolved internally.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

As others alluded to, it is the -

"...Kelly and Ghosn both arrived in Tokyo on the same fateful day in November 2018 and were arrested by Japanese authorities. They say Nissan lured them to the country on the pretext of an important board meeting..."

that sticks in the craw of many.

SInce when does a company collude with police and prosecutors, obviously over a long period of time, to investigate in-house anomalies and questions? That in the first instance these "worries" were never brought to the attention of all involved at executive level, let alone addressed, is certainly troublesome - regardless of guilt or not.

And the company using fabrications to trap the pair in cahoots with the prosecutors smacks of powers that belong not in a modern democracy.

11 ( +13 / -2 )

Injustice Japan Part Two: Payback. There's no way the prosecutors relent even in the face of world attention on Japan. Saikawa is still not in jail

8 ( +8 / -0 )

The poor man cannot even go "home" and tell any own opinion by fear of going back to jail. He seems to have complied and surely could not deny the accusation due to his medical conditions.

He is just collagefal damage since we all know that the purpose was to remove Goshn from Nissan...

How long by the way does he have to wait for trial ?

Medieval times.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Meanwhile the ACTUAL second in command in Japan was given a golden parachute as a retirement package even as the company said they would not comment on said package. Good old Japan.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

@Dukeleto

AND WHERE IS SAIKAWA!!! Caught doing the exact same thing that Kelly and Ghosn are accused of but he is free and even able to attend Nissan shareholder meetings. The injustice is clear to everyone except possibly the Japanese.

Exactly, and it's really hard to defend this activity as being anything other than anti-foreigner (won't use the more emotionally charged "r" word, even if it might apply). With complete disregard for basic humanity, even. Many people tend to bash China for its human rights record, but when you see something like this, a supposed developed and democratic country forcing an elderly, polite American with a back problem to sit on the ground in a cold jail cell in a hostage justice system, and later to have lasting symptoms of numbness in his arms and legs... it's just heartbreaking, and simply incomprehensible. Ludicrous, even.

It's coming to the point where I almost can't read these articles anymore, as they make me feel more strongly each time that, as foreigners, we are simply not welcome in this country. It furthermore makes me seriously reconsider whether my efforts to contribute to society here are ultimately in my best long-term interests and safety, given that something like this could happen to any of us. Is it paranoia to consider that a disgruntled coworker, or even neighbour, could flag the police on a bogus suspicion and suddenly to find myself imprisoned in a hostage justice system? Given all of this, and plenty of JT comments regarding exactly such instance (one JT person who tried to stop chikan in the train and ended up himself interrogated by police comes to mind) - maybe not!

6 ( +7 / -1 )

japan always offers a fair trial!

always innocent until proven guilty!!

so much fairness and justice!!

and the world is flat.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

He still does not know when his trial will begin, despite another pre-trial session on Friday. Sources say it is likely to start in May.

Not in may with the olympic just around, they cannot risk putting the j-justice system into the limelight.

Probably in the fall after the paralympics.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Why would Ghosn fleeing Japan have any bearing on the fairness of Kelly's trial?... Oh wait... Because Japan... make an example... pathetic blah blah blah

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Greg Kelly is my father, and this whole experience has been a nightmare for my family. He would love the opportunity to prove his innocence in trial, but they refuse to set a firm court date and court will only meet 4-6 days per month when it begins. When all is said and done, he will have lost 3-4 years of time with his family. For anyone who sympathizes with my family's situation, please sign and share our change.org petition at change.org/bringgreghome

3 ( +3 / -0 )

They are going to make him provide a confession that implicates Ghosn in exchange for a suspended sentence?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

By the way, Kelly , nissan deserve to do badly, all my friends sold every single of their shares in nissan and all their nissan cars. Unless the japanese , proshucute saikawa and his gang , nobody will ever trust nissan ever.

pls get saikawa first, his excuses to blame Carlos and u are too stupid. Only fools will believe him.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

@Kevin so sorry about your father, they way they treat him is really terrible, make him in constant paint and already cost his health.

"Really, it was painful. Very, very painful," Kelly said, adding that he had tried to explain to wardens that he could not sit on the floor as required.

Since his release, he has undergone surgery in Japan that seems to have worked, although he said he still suffers from numbness in his feet, arms and legs.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I am so ashamed of the justice system here in Japan. So very ashamed! He's married and the only way his wife could be with him is through a student visa? From what I understand about this case, he is just the victim in Japan's bullying and their vindictive, revengeful plot to get back at Ghosn for blowing this trumped up fake case wide open for all to see the stupidness that is the Japanese justice (hostage) system. Quite the appalling read!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Kelly San, pls do not worry, in to-day's world , We have what u call conference in telivision using the EYE,Carlos is a very good friend of u and he will if he can help u from whereever he is. No need for him to be here in japan . If he was here , both of U risked a no win trail. Now both of U have a equal chance. This is a fact, because as U know carlos ( I do not know him ), Carlos is not a man to back down from the truth. He may be mischevious but certainly, U and him cannot commit those accusation without japanese participation. Be sure of yrself and pls do not help anything that is not the truth. Be confident, it is better to die a horonable man that to be a horrible snake that changes his belives when the tide changes. Pls put the nissan case on world eyes.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Careful, Ghosn is watching like a hawk. Anything he considers wrong or abusive will be vocally disputed via international media with all the evidence he claims to have. Saikawa also can’t hide for long. The international court of world opinion is ready for round two.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It is impossible to know what really happened. It is very possible to take your money to another dealer all over the world.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

they paid him or tortured him to make him smile?

release him !

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

"I was completely surprised. I had no idea that would happen," Kelly said. "I was shocked."

Why?

Leaving behind torture under the hands of the MOJ didn’t surprise me in the slightest...

-2 ( +10 / -12 )

 Ghosn, not so. You're over thinking it man.

It's Greg Kelly talking, not Ghosn. Well , yes, Kelly is a Bill Clint... er an American lawyer too, "who chose his words carefully. ".

"I was completely surprised. I had no idea that would happen," Kelly said. "I was shocked."

What I wonder is why he hasn't even a word of anger about Ghosn. His ex-boss still has something to reveal about him or what ?

Ultimately Kelly's bank accounts and assets should be his proof. 

Supposing you can identify all the offshore shell companies and accounts in Panama or wherever...

She spends her days learning Japanese

After living 10 yrs in Japan she's in what grade ? Second year of post-doc in Japanese philology ?

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

Ultimately Kelly's bank accounts and assets should be his proof. Although.... one line made me wonder, not sure if it was a direct quote though. He said "I did not do anything wrong in Japan". Which, of course makes me wonder if he did anything wrong outside of Japan.

-3 ( +9 / -12 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites