Ex-Nissan chief Ghosn released on bail after 108 days in detention

TOKYO, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Ex-Nissan Motor Co. Chairman Carlos Ghosn was released Wednesday from a Tokyo detention facility where he had been held for 108 days, after BAIL of one billion yen (nine million U.S. dollars) was posted.

Ghosn, who is facing two charges of under-reporting his remuneration in Nissan's securities reports and another allegation of aggravated breach of trust, was granted BAIL by the Tokyo District Court a day earlier.

The former auto tycoon's release followed the court rejecting an appeal by prosecutors to reverse the BAIL decision.

Ghosn's BAIL was set at one billion yen after a request was filed with the court on last Thursday by Ghosn's new legal team.

Ghosn has legal representation including that from newly-appointed lawyer Junichiro Hironaka who is known for winning acquittals in high-profile cases.

It was the third attempt his legal team had requested BAIL for their client, after the first two were rejected by the court.

Ghosn, previously considered a flight risk by the court, is under a travel ban as part of his BAIL agreement, to ensure he does not leave Japan.

He will also have to remain under limited video surveillance and will only be granted restricted access to the use of mobile phones and computers.

Other provisos of his BAIL have not been made clear, but, according to sources close to the matter, they are based around making sure Ghosn cannot tamper with evidence or contact Nissan executives or others involved in the case.

"I am innocent and totally committed to vigorously defending myself in a fair trial against these meritless and unsubstantiated accusations," Ghosn said in a statement released a day earlier through his representative in the United States, as quoted by media outlets here.

Ghosn has spent 108 days incarcerated at the Tokyo Detention House since his arrest on Nov. 19 last year, but has resolutely maintained his innocence.

He has stated that he has in no way violated financial regulatory laws in relation to reporting his earnings, and has maintained that Nissan incurred no losses from his private investment dealings that have led to allegations of breach of trust.

Ghosn, who holds Brazilian, French and Lebanese citizenship, is widely recognized as the brains and brawn behind Nissan's rapid turnaround from near bankruptcy since 1999.

Since his detention, Ghosn has been dismissed as chairman of Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors Corp.

He was also replaced as chairman of Renault SA in the three-way alliance he created after he tendered his resignation while in detention in Tokyo.