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Ghosn leaves detention center; agrees to limit contact with wife

77 Comments
By Tim Kelly and Naomi Tajitsu

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77 Comments
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Guy is starting to look gaunt. This is starting to seem like the strategy the prosecutors are working towards. Wear his arse down to the point he can't take it anymore, and will sign anything they want!

Probably too because they dont have enough to convict as well. That is one of the reasons cops here keep adding charges, they want to get someone for something and dont want them to walk.

I personally hope he keeps up his strength and keeps fighting!

25 ( +30 / -5 )

When with the next arrest occur? The prosecutors are simply trying to wear Ghosn down and drain his bank accounts.

If I were Ghosn, I'd be trying my hardest to get out of Japan because nobody receives a fair trial in this country. Anyone who puts faith in the Japanese "justice" system is a complete moron.

24 ( +29 / -5 )

Best news of the day!

"I maintain my innocence and am committed to vigorously defending myself against these meritless and unsubstantiated accusations".

No doubt japanese prosecutors are foaming at the mouth right now ツ

21 ( +26 / -5 )

Carlos Ghosn walked out of a detention center for a second time late on Thursday, freed on 500 million yen bail after agreeing to curbs on contacting his wife as he awaits trial on financial misconduct charges.

500 million, anyone can check bails granted for other cases, there's none that near that number only for Ghosn. This article show that fact.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/04/17/national/crime-legal/examining-carlos-ghosn-japans-system-hostage-justice/

Along with restricted access to his wife, Ghosn's movements and communications will be closely monitored and restricted to prevent his fleeing the country and tampering with evidence,

Now they restrict him to interact with his wife, what next they'll limit to interact with his kids? They's how they break him down.

Tampering with evidence, that's argument always be used over and over again. They already restrict him to meet anyone from nissan, they already took necessary documents.

The only one that has been proven tampering evidence in Japan is Tsunehiko Maeda and he was part of legal system.

10 ( +15 / -5 )

What a crock of poo. The treatment of Ghosn is ludicrous. And now he'll have to ask permission from Uncle Abe to hold his own wife's hand? Totally normal...

20 ( +27 / -7 )

Cruel and unusual punishment for someone that has not even been convicted of any crime.

23 ( +28 / -5 )

Agree with the posters above. They raided his house more than a few times, they've questioned his wife, touched her up after breaking into their house like the gestapo and wouldn't even allow her the dignity to enter the toilet by herself and now want to restrict her fundamental human rights to see her husband?? Heck there are quite a few 3rd world countries that treat their detainees better than this poor man has been by Japan. Disgusting. Human rights in Japan? Hah!!

24 ( +29 / -5 )

They should start referring to The Tokyo District Court as The Tokyo Dizzy Land! They keep putting Ghosn on a barrage of sickening rides.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

A waiting Toyota Alphard van whisked him past the dozens of reporters, ...

Sly of the writers to slide the automobile make and model in there. :)

23 ( +23 / -0 )

Sly of the writers to slide the automobile make and model in there. :)

Would have been better if they had picked him up in a Nissan President!

17 ( +17 / -0 )

Now they restrict him to interact with his wife, what next they'll limit to interact with his kids? 

The restriction is only for those of his sisters/wives/kids/friends/lawyers that received unexplained transfers of money and free stuff that came from Nissan. That makes quite a crowd, it seems.

It's temporary. The limit will be lifted as soon as Ghosn successes in explaining what mysterious jobs that were all doing for the car makers...

-8 ( +5 / -13 )

Rather save face and lock up someone, anyone. A family destroyed means nothing to prosecutors. After 30 years too many are found to have been not guilty, forced confessions, false evidence, again and again then the absolved person who's mentally crushed in hospital near death, the prosecutors appeal their release? That speaks volumes of the inhumanity of the legal system.

15 ( +20 / -5 )

Both should have recording devises recording video and sound devises attached to their bodies 24 hours a day. That would dispell all the conspiracy theories about interference. Or prove them true. Her too.

-10 ( +3 / -13 )

I only hope Ghosn pursues his innocence till the end. It would be such a waste for him to settle at this stage. It seems as if Japanese Executives and Prosecutors have underestimated Ghosn. And hopefully justice will prevail and Japan’s true character will be unveiled.

14 ( +17 / -3 )

When with the next arrest occur? The prosecutors are simply trying to wear Ghosn down and drain his bank accounts.

Hint. $17m given to his son in America?

-12 ( +2 / -14 )

Seems unconstitutional to me, or at the very least - unethical, to limit contact with his wife. I am more concerned with prosecutors tampering with evidence, given their track record and startling lack of ethics.

15 ( +18 / -3 )

they are making it very difficult for him to build a defense for himself. they will closely monitor his every move, restrict his meetings with his wife. Some pretty extreme conditions for a guy who is accused for financial crimes. I guess this is what happens when you don't sign a confession and bow before the nation.

7 ( +11 / -4 )

I thought the handling of this case had shed light on the cruel, made up, outdated and stupid laws that have been destroying peoples lives for years. They have no SOLID PROOF or EVIDENCE to hold him for nothing. Yet other more serious crimes with video proof, witnesses and confessions are not taken seriously. Human Rights in Japan? Far less for a foreigner? I am at a loss of words.

15 ( +18 / -3 )

What a circus

10 ( +13 / -3 )

Dude is looking gaunt and haggard, kind of like a gaijin thats been in japan for 20 years or so, I keep myself in the gym to keep that at bay

I think Carlos has no understanding of Japanese because he doesnt speak it or married to one.

They going to wear him down. Outside way vs inside way....time is on the prosecutors side.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

“agrees to limit contact with wife”

So, it’s not all bad news for him.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

I pray for Ghosn. The prosecution has again blinked. Their case must be cracking. They want even Ghosn to be grateful as we enter the new Reiwa era. Pure charades.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

I agree with everyone who says he is being treated cruelly and unusually, but your missing the truth thats right in front of you: your dealing with cruel and unusual people

Japanese live in a hierarchical society where conformity and rules dictate how they live and behave. A gaijin without any understanding of this inside game is just too easy to play with for them.

Will he still love Japan and its people once this is all over? Me thinks he is already re considering this.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

I am very glad that Ghosn was released on bail, as we all know that the prosecutors pulled out all of the stops and used every despicable tactic to pressure the court to deny bail.

Other posters have rightly pointed out the injustice and inhumanity of restricting Ghosn's freedom to communicate with his wife, let alone actually being able to be together with her while he awaits his trial. It is an utter travesty.

That said, I want to make an observation. This whole case is putting immense pressure on the Japanese legal system and it is creaking under that pressure.

What I mean by that is that, under normal circumstances, without the glaring spotlight and the international attention, the courts would be free to rubber-stamp the recommendations / requests / wishers of the prosecutors. And make no mistake, that is what they would prefer to do, as the prosecutors and judges are, in many ways, on the same side in the Japanese legal system.

However, the court is obviously under immense pressure here and my guess is that the new defense counsel for Ghosn is doing his best to further increase that pressure.

So, what is the court to do? The prosecutors are pushing to deny bail because of the Mrs. Ghosn argument. At the same time, I am sure the court recognizes the sensitive nature of Ghosn's case and knows that, having granted bail once, it is really hard to deny bail again.

So, they resort to this. They grant bail, but, in a face-saving concession to the prosecutors, they impose this condition.

I think it is still an utter travesty, but that is my guess as to what transpired.

10 ( +13 / -3 )

Im trying to figure out his strategy, I mean in Japan its an unspoken understanding between you and your lawyer that there will be a compromise and consensus between you and the opposing party. I respect the win at all odds but I dont see how that will work out for him here.

If he is trying to be a martyr for something in Japan, thats a fools dream.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Hint. $17m given to his son in America?

Hint. if the prosecutors think their eveidence is so errefutable then why the need to detain Ghosn for so long and force a confession. I mean if all this so called eveidence is so damning there would be no need for a confession, a judge or jury would easily convict Ghosn. But like many parts of Japan society they have this fetish of making people cowtow and apologise for even the smallest of errors.

11 ( +14 / -3 )

A gaijin without any understanding of this inside game is just too easy to play with for them.

on the contrary, I think its the opposite as many gaijin don't kowtow to authority as easily as Japanese, they're not locked in the cultural mindset that many Japanese are expected to follow regardless how illogical t may be.

13 ( +15 / -2 )

.

@ Stewart Gale : “agrees to limit contact with wife”

So, it’s not all bad news for him.

.

:-) Don't know why some don't see the humor !

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

.

Just looking at the expression on Ghosn's face- it's clear he KNOWS he's CHECKMATED.

.

-11 ( +3 / -14 )

I mean in Japan its an unspoken understanding between you and your lawyer that there will be a compromise and consensus between you and the opposing party. I respect the win at all odds but I dont see how that will work out for him here.

why should there be compromise if your innocent of a crime! compromise so the prosecutors dont lose face!? meanwhile if you compromise your innocence you get to spend time in jail while the prosecutors go home to their families feeling good about themselves. Explain to me the logic of this compromise where the average Taro is almost always the ones that suffers and those in power dont no matter how illogical or immoral their decisions get.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

Just looking at the expression on Ghosn's face- it's clear he KNOWS he's CHECKMATED.

maybe your confussing checkmate with exhaustion. Ghosn lawyer doesnt seem to think so.

16 ( +18 / -2 )

Best wishes to Ghosn that this be his last bail.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Who will clean up all these mess after all? It should not be Carlos Ghosn alone. For fair trial, Ghosn's lawyer is asking for trial separate from Nissan's and Kelly's. Enough fabricated stories. Fact first, stories later, please. To me it all seems a matter of interpretation. Update Japanese Justice System. Plea bargain does not work in defective medieval justice system.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Obviously, Japanese prosecutors are very different. I never see any strategies in any movies and thrillers like the one in this plot. It is so suspense.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

The case should be thrown out given that prosecutors took his defense evidence when they arrested him last time!

7 ( +10 / -3 )

There is just no cure for stupid.

Now he is forbidden from seeing his wife. Yep, this is playing out really, really well guys. Just in time for the era change. An embarrassment to the nation when we should all be in celebration mode.

Have you ever seen a majestic person at work? Someone so good at something that everything they seem to do and touch turns to gold. Professional athletes, elite businessmen and leaders, musicians or entertainers. They have risen through the hierarchies of competence and have become so fluid, natural and talented it’s just a pleasure to even watch or be around them.

When hierarchies aren’t based on competence, the exact opposite is true. Dictators, tyrants and self serving back stabbing scoundrels. They leave suffering , bad decisions and misery in their wakes.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

If Ghosn is being treated so unjustly and his rights are being violated like you guys say, then where is Macron?? Why won't he come to the aid of his countryman unjustly accused and illegally and inhumanely detained??

Where is the outpouring of sympathy and display of anger from his countrymen and women for his ordeal??? He can rot to hell for all they care and that says it all. He is a crook and they know it. When will you guys wake up?

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

Ricky Kaminski13, the court dosen't rule against seeing, just no contact.

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

Evendors Horiemon had access to communicate to his wife, tell me one scandal case here where they prevented communication from their spouses? Absolutely Zero

1 ( +4 / -3 )

I thought the handling of this case had shed light on the cruel, made up, outdated and stupid laws that have been destroying peoples lives for years. 

You are describing the Japanese Immigration at its finest! Have been working with and against those crooks for years!

Regardless if you have a wife, kids, spotless record, they put you in one of those Detention Centers and confine you indefinitely, they swipe their a** with your provisional release requests until you or your family break, to the point of accepting the deportation. Ghosn's case is exactly what happens every single day in Tokyo and Osaka immigration, families destroyed, people detained for nothing, and finally, acceptance of their unjust verdict. Just hope no one here will say nonsense such as "but these people might definitely have a reason to be there" anymore.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

I think its the opposite as many gaijin don't kowtow to authority as easily as Japanese, they're not locked in the cultural mindset that many Japanese are expected to follow regardless how illogical t may be

What then is your suggestion then, on how to deal with this prosecution? It will never be an all or nothing win for Carlos.

I agree, for a simpler case, I would hold out in detention for 23 days, no breaking, and no sign, if it benefits me in getting off not guilty.

This guy has been in detention for how long now?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I think its the opposite as many gaijin don't kowtow to authority as easily as Japanese, they're not locked in the cultural mindset that many Japanese are expected to follow regardless how illogical t may be

What then is your suggestion then, on how to deal with this prosecution? It will never be an all or nothing win for Carlos.

I agree, for a simpler case, I would hold out in detention for 23 days, no breaking, and no sign, if it benefits me in getting off not guilty.

This guy has been in detention for how long now?

sorry, should of used quotes

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Ghosn leaves detention center; agrees to limit contact with wife

This headline sould really read "Ghosn leaves detention center; agrees to limit contact with wife whatever that means".

They should start referring to The Tokyo District Court as The Tokyo Dizzy Land!

And Tokyo District Prosecutors Office should be renamed "New Kempetai Headquarters". What shall we call Tokyo Detention Center - Bridge Housr (Shanghai) Mk.2.

No doubt the prosecutor demanded this, and the scared little judges rubber stamped it.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

felt so sad and sorry for him and his family, he looks so much older and in bad shape. whoever did this for sure will go to hell. if there is nothing to charge him, why keep torturing him. he did a great job to help nissan and in return they put him in hell. the name of nissan - gives me chills. a bunch of losers.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Some people find it difficult to understand. It doesn’t matter if he is guilty or not, the way he’s being treated, as with any other person suspected of a crime, Japanese or otherwise, is a violation of basic universal human rights. Fine, lock him up if he’s guilty, but let the court decide on that. If he is guilty, and the prosecutors have solif evidence of that, why must they keep him in detention for more than 100 days?

10 ( +13 / -3 )

Sadly very sadly the pig headed prosecutors only way out now is have him die in custody due to an unrelated condition. That's how sick the legal system works.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

TheLongTermerToday  09:58 am JST

I agree with everyone who says he is being treated cruelly and unusually, but your missing the truth thats right in front of you: your dealing with cruel and unusual people

Dealing with cruel and unusual people.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Still waiting for an undisclosed source to disclose who he Actually hurt and what shareholders lost any money? Like a future renumeration package Are you grievous about not getting what you want? Personally I expect a pension but apparently not! And I did pay. Can I get justice will a beauracract be held, segregated from his family? Damn it now I wish he or she were non Japanese.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Sadly very sadly the pig headed prosecutors only way out now is have him die in custody due to an unrelated condition. That's how sick the legal system works.

Could happen. appears to be some rapid aging and health deterioration going on. Dude looks terrible

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Guy is starting to look gaunt.

He looks like he's aged 10 years in the past 5 months.

If I were Ghosn, I'd be trying my hardest to get out of Japan because nobody receives a fair trial in this country. 

I gotta agree with Chip Star here. Unfortunately he can't leave, he won't be able to board a plane or even a boat.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Some people find it difficult to understand. It doesn’t matter if he is guilty or not, the way he’s being treated, as with any other person suspected of a crime, Japanese or otherwise, is a violation of basic universal human rights. Fine, lock him up if he’s guilty, but let the court decide on that. If he is guilty, and the prosecutors have solif evidence of that, why must they keep him in detention for more than 100 days?

Excellent excellent post!

1 ( +4 / -3 )

why the need to detain Ghosn for so long and force a confession.

Nobody is forcing a confession.

-11 ( +3 / -14 )

@tinawatanabe, yes nobody. J-prosecutors are nobody. LOL

5 ( +6 / -1 )

As the prosecutors say in response to foreign criticisms, they don't force a confession. There is no point of forcing a confession because, 1. Defendents often change their confessions. 2. Confessions themselves do not constitute evidence in Japan. 3. It is recorded. 4. Defendants can be convicted even without any confessions.

Conclusion;  Japan's prosecutors don't need confessions.

-14 ( +1 / -15 )

At least he wore a suit.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Prosecutors are only bureaucrats.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

If their goal is to make him confess in order to get out of jail, then they would have to offer him a deal that included no jail time, right? Otherwise, what's the point of making the deal?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

the court dosen't rule against seeing, just no contact.

Is this like "eating ain't cheating?"

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Interesting that the prosecutors still think there is a risk he will ‘tamper with evidence’ when the mentioned the other week they already had enough to convict on! Clutching at straws guys...

Stay strong Carlos, guilty or not you and all others brought before this system deserved better. Absolutely disgraceful system.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Shocking story above. Has anyrhing changed?

Scaredy-cat cowardly custard J-judges.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Well, he's out of jail. At least much is good.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

*that much is good

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If the prosecutors seriously believe that Ghosn could tamper with evidence, then what kind of evidence do they have? Finger prints? DNA? Who do they think they are fooling? Not that I need an answer to that (cough cough, themselves cough)

2 ( +4 / -2 )

But hopefully he doesn't have to limit contact with his son, so there's still time to have them destroy past money transfers.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

His crime is doing what most Japanese executives probably do, but having the audacity to do it as a foreigner. I don't think many Japanese people take it too well when a foreigner is allowed to be in charge of a big Japanese organization...

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Nobody is forcing a confession.

Then why the multiple detentions? The prosecutors should have taken all the evidence when they first raided Ghosn house and office.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

why should there be compromise if your innocent of a crime! compromise so the prosecutors dont lose face!? meanwhile if you compromise your innocence you get to spend time in jail while the prosecutors go home to their families feeling good about themselves. Explain to me the logic of this compromise where the average Taro is almost always the ones that suffers and those in power dont no matter how illogical or immoral their decisions get.

WTF, the explanation is this. It’s not about fairness and justice. If your culture values saving face over justice then it’s secivdary that he spends a reduced time in prison though he’s innocent. Both sides have to save face. It’s not about Ghosn it’s aboyt saving face. This is more important to the Japanese. It’s also called pride.

If your pride is great enough, you’re more important than a miscarriage of justice they haven’t been taught the virtue of justice

3 ( +4 / -1 )

There's a huge difference between being found innocent and not guilty. Ghosn will learn than when his day in court rolls around.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

I love Carlos's determination, and resolve, I think he's a strong guy and I hope that justice prevails, although reading the above comments it seems that his fait is already sealed, it seems just a process, well I hope the Nissan gets all of the bad publicity it gets, I also love the way the gets a sneaky add in for the mini van, is this really necessary? remember Carlos you are innocent until proven guilty!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Remember Carlos, discreetly distributed padded envelopes will guarantee documents gets lost/destroyed and that your partners in crime can't recall anything. Your wife knows exactly what to do as per your orders.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Nissan-s-Ghosn-crisis/Ghosn-said-to-have-planned-tax-move-to-Switzerland

Ghosn said to have planned tax move to Switzerland

Impending end to Dutch tax break was likely catalyst, French media reports

An alliance-related fund that Ghosn established in Geneva last year may have been intended to give him a pretext to reside there, L'Express reported Wednesday. The French news magazine said the move could have been prompted by the impending expiration of a tax break Ghosn had received in the Netherlands. Renault is apparently looking into the situation.

Ghosn remains in detention in Tokyo since his arrest in November on charges of financial misconduct.

The fund would have had a 30 million euro ($34 million) budget. Paperwork submitted to Swiss authorities listed Ghosn as the chief representative and said the purpose of the fund was to encourage diversity and multicultural management at companies.

Ghosn previously resided in France, but he reportedly moved his tax domicile to the Netherlands in 2012 to avoid a wealth tax. Renault-Nissan BV, the company that coordinates the alliance, is based in Amsterdam.

https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/societe/enquete/carlos-ghosn-s-appretait-a-demenager-en-suisse_2060728.html

0 ( +0 / -0 )

.

Yawnnnnnnnnn.

Enough already. He's not a victim.

,

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

This is an abuse of human rights. Whatever, he had done, he did already. Now it is time, to go to open court and have things clearly out in the open. Why all this unnecessary drama ???.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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