Detained again, Nissan ex-chief Ghosn says arrest is ‘outrageous’

Former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn has been arrested for a fourth time by Japanese prosecutors in a new case.

This time round, he’s facing charges of trying to enrich himself by 5 million U.S. dollars, at Nissan’s expense.

Japanese media are linking the charges to payments to a dealer in Oman.

Kyodo news agency – without citing sources – claim he shifted funds through the dealer to a company Ghosn effectively owned.

Tokyo prosecutors claim the alleged payments were in breach of his legal duties to the automaker.

In a statement through his spokesman, Ghosn said he will not be broken.

He called his arrest Thursday (April 4) morning, quote: “outrageous and arbitrary” and that it’s “part of another attempt by some individuals at Nissan to silence me by misleading the prosecutors.”

His arrest comes just a day after he pledged to tell the truth about the allegations against him, in a scheduled news conference.

Local media describe a re-arrest whilst out on bail – as a highly unusual move in Japan.

And it’s just the latest twist in Ghosn’s dramatic fall from grace.

He was once seen as a legend in the industry, championed in Japan for rescuing Nissan from near bankruptcy.

Ghosn was released on bail in March – he’s already facing charges for alleged financial crimes at Nissan, including under-reporting his salary.

He maintains his innocence, saying he’s a victim of a boardroom coup.

Nissan said it can’t comment on judicial decisions.