Carlos Ghosn officially charged over financial misconduct

Ousted Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn and the car firm have been formally charged with financial misconduct by Japanese prosecutors, according to reports.

Ghosn, the architect of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, was arrested in Japan in November accused of under-reporting his salary and using company assets for personal use. Japanese TV station NHK says that he has now been indicted for under-reporting his salary, and re-arrested over similar allegations dating back several years.

Ghosn was stripped of his chairman roles at Nissan and Mitsubishi after the allegations emerged, although he remains chairman and CEO of Renault.

Nissan has also been charged by prosecutors, as a corporation involved in the case, according to NHK. Former Nissan representative director Greg Kelly, who was arrested at the same time as Ghosn, has been indicted too.

According to NHK, prosecutors believe Ghosn arranged that, following his retirement, he would receive the difference between the salary documented in Nissan’s reports and that actually paid out.

Ghosn has not issued any public statement following his arrest, but he is reported to have denied the allegations to prosecutors.

Also read: Nissan to oust boss Carlos Ghosn due to 'serious misconduct'