The wife of ousted <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ghosn-lawyers-seek-bail-after-ex-nissan-chief-indicted-on-two-new-charges-189582">Nissan Motor Co Ltd chairman Carlos Ghosn</a> has urged New York-based Human Rights Watch to draw attention to his "harsh treatment" during detention in a Japanese jail, a letter seen by Reuters showed on Sunday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/japan-court-rejects-nissan-boss-carlos-ghosns-release-bid-189183">Japanese authorities have charged Ghosn</a> with under-reporting income and aggravated breach of trust for temporarily transferring personal investment losses to Nissan in 2008.

In a nine-page letter to Kanae Doi, the rights group's Japan director, Carole Ghosn asked it to "shine a light on the harsh treatment of my husband and the human rights-related inequities inflicted upon him by the Japanese justice system".

Ghosn was in charge of an alliance that included Nissan Motor, Mitsubishi Motors and France's Renault until his November arrest and removal as chairman of the automakers sent shockwaves through the industry.

The government has denied requests to end his detention, which has run since November 19. Ghosn's lawyers have said it would probably take more than six months for his case to come to trial. (For Ghosn investigation timeline, click on)

Phones went unanswered at Japan's Foreign Ministry and the prime minister's office as Monday is a public holiday, but Nissan said it was not in a position to comment on the workings of the judicial system or any decision by the Tokyo prosecutors' office.

Officials of Human Rights Watch could not be reached for comment on the letter, but its Asia director, Brad Adams, said in an editorial on Thursday that Ghosn's case "has shone a light" on Japan's long-overlooked "hostage" justice system.

"Ghosn has not, and should not, receive preferential treatment," Adams wrote in the editorial, which appeared in the online edition of "The Diplomat".

"But if Japan wants to live up to its reputation as one of the world's most advanced democracies, it needs to modernize its criminal justice system," he added.

"Regardless of the serious allegations against him, or the controversies surrounding his tenure at Nissan, no one should have their rights violated in this way while facing criminal charges."

Nissan said last Friday it had filed a criminal complaint against Ghosn with Tokyo prosecutors related to the misuse of a "significant amount of the company's funds".

The former Nissan executive is being held in a 75-sq-foot (6.97-sqm) unheated cell and being denied daily medication, his wife said in her letter. He has lost 7 kg (15 lb) since being detained and eats only rice and barley, she added.

Prosecutors in Japan often try to extract confessions from prisoners in detainment that could last months, Carole Ghosn said in the letter.

"For hours each day, the prosecutors interrogate him, browbeat him, lecture him and berate him, outside the presence of his attorneys, in an effort to extract a confession," she said.

"No one should be forced to endure what my husband faces every day, particularly in a developed nation like Japan, the third largest economy in the world."

Ghosn said he was "wrongly accused and unfairly detained based on meritless and unsubstantiated accusations" during a Tokyo court proceeding last week, his first public appearance since his November arrest, at which he seemed noticeably thinner.

Japanese authorities have charged Ghosn with under-reporting income and aggravated breach of trust for temporarily transferring personal investment losses to Nissan in 2008.

The wife of ousted Nissan Motor Co Ltd chairman Carlos Ghosn has urged New York-based Human Rights Watch to draw attention to his "harsh treatment" during detention in a Japanese jail, a letter seen by Reuters showed on Sunday. Japanese authorities have charged Ghosn with under-reporting income and aggravated breach of trust for temporarily transferring personal investment losses to Nissan in 2008. In a nine-page letter to Kanae Doi, the rights group's Japan director, Carole Ghosn asked it to "shine a light on the harsh treatment of my husband and the human rights-related inequities inflicted upon him by the Japanese justice system". Ghosn was in charge of an alliance that included Nissan Motor, Mitsubishi Motors and France's Renault until his November arrest and removal as chairman of the automakers sent shockwaves through the industry. The government has denied requests to end his detention, which has run since November 19. Ghosn's lawyers have said it would probably take more than six months for his case to come to trial. (For Ghosn investigation timeline, click on) Phones went unanswered at Japan's Foreign Ministry and the prime minister's office as Monday is a public holiday, but Nissan said it was not in a position to comment on the workings of the judicial system or any decision by the Tokyo prosecutors' office. Officials of Human Rights Watch could not be reached for comment on the letter, but its Asia director, Brad Adams, said in an editorial on Thursday that Ghosn's case "has shone a light" on Japan's long-overlooked "hostage" justice system. "Ghosn has not, and should not, receive preferential treatment," Adams wrote in the editorial, which appeared in the online edition of "The Diplomat". "But if Japan wants to live up to its reputation as one of the world's most advanced democracies, it needs to modernize its criminal justice system," he added. "Regardless of the serious allegations against him, or the controversies surrounding his tenure at Nissan, no one should have their rights violated in this way while facing criminal charges." Nissan said last Friday it had filed a criminal complaint against Ghosn with Tokyo prosecutors related to the misuse of a "significant amount of the company's funds". The former Nissan executive is being held in a 75-sq-foot (6.97-sqm) unheated cell and being denied daily medication, his wife said in her letter. He has lost 7 kg (15 lb) since being detained and eats only rice and barley, she added. Prosecutors in Japan often try to extract confessions from prisoners in detainment that could last months, Carole Ghosn said in the letter. "For hours each day, the prosecutors interrogate him, browbeat him, lecture him and berate him, outside the presence of his attorneys, in an effort to extract a confession," she said. "No one should be forced to endure what my husband faces every day, particularly in a developed nation like Japan, the third largest economy in the world." Ghosn said he was "wrongly accused and unfairly detained based on meritless and unsubstantiated accusations" during a Tokyo court proceeding last week, his first public appearance since his November arrest, at which he seemed noticeably thinner.

Ex-Nissan boss Ghosn suffers 'harsh' treatment in jail, says wife

Defence lawyers for <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/wrongly-accused-and-unfairly-detained-ex-nissan-chief-carlos-ghosn-tells-court-188904">Nissan ex-Chairman Carlos Ghosn</a> said they will seek his release on bail after Tokyo prosecutors indicted him on Friday on two new charges of financial misconduct.

The former executive - once lauded for rescuing a near-bankrupt Nissan - was charged with aggravated breach of trust for temporarily transferring personal investment losses to the automaker in 2008, and for understating his compensation for three years through March 2018, prosecutors said.

The charges were widely expected after Ghosn's arrest for those allegations last month. Under Japanese law, suspects can be held for 23 days before being formally charged.

Prosecutors on Friday also indicted Nissan Motor Co Ltd and former Representative Director Greg Kelly for under-reporting Ghosn's income for those three years. Kelly was arrested in November and released on bail on Christmas Day.

Ghosn, Kelly and Nissan have already been indicted for under-reporting Ghosn's income for the five years through 2015.

"This second indictment for Kelly comes as no surprise as it merely makes what was a five year period for the first into eight years," said Kelly's lawyer Yoichi Kitamura.

Kelly, who was hospitalised for treatment of a neck problem immediately after his release, cannot leave the country without special permission. He has denied the allegations.

Kitamura said he expects Ghosn and Kelly to be tried together on the two charges and that he will work closely with Ghosn's legal team to prepare for the trial.

In a court hearing on Tuesday, Ghosn denied the allegations, calling them "meritless" and "unsubstantiated".

Ghosn in court said he had asked Nissan to temporarily take on his foreign exchange contracts after the 2008-2009 financial crisis prompted his bank to call for more collateral. He said he did this to avoid having to resign and use his retirement allowance for collateral.

Motonari Otsuru, the head of Ghosn's legal team, said on Tuesday that Nissan had agreed to the arrangement on condition that any losses or gains would be Ghosn's. Ghosn said the contracts were transferred back to him and that Nissan did not incur a loss.

Bail

In response to the charges, Nissan said in a statement that it "takes this situation extremely seriously and expresses its deepest regret for any concern caused to its stakeholders."

It said it would "continue its efforts to strengthen its governance and compliance, including making accurate disclosures of corporate information."

As for Ghosn's alleged shifting of investment losses to Nissan, the company said it "does not in any way tolerate such misconduct and calls for strict penalties."

Otsuru said on Friday his team would apply for bail for Ghosn. However, it is uncommon for defendants in Japan who deny their charges to be granted bail ahead of trial.

Otsuru earlier this week said Ghosn would likely be held until the trial, which he said could begin in about six months.

Even if bail were granted, Ghosn would not likely be released until Tuesday given that Monday is public holiday, and all banks will be closed through the long weekend.

The boards of Nissan and its French 43.4 per cent owner, Renault SA, met on Thursday for an update on the Ghosn investigations, with Nissan later saying it remained committed to an alliance which has been strained by the case.

Also on Thursday, Ghosn's wife, Carole, issued a statement on his continued detention, asking Japanese authorities for more information on her husband's health after he ran a fever, saying she was worried about his recovery.

Defence lawyers for Nissan ex-Chairman Carlos Ghosn said they will seek his release on bail after Tokyo prosecutors indicted him on Friday on two new charges of financial misconduct.

Defence lawyers for Nissan ex-Chairman Carlos Ghosn said they will seek his release on bail after Tokyo prosecutors indicted him on Friday on two new charges of financial misconduct. The former executive - once lauded for rescuing a near-bankrupt Nissan - was charged with aggravated breach of trust for temporarily transferring personal investment losses to the automaker in 2008, and for understating his compensation for three years through March 2018, prosecutors said. The charges were widely expected after Ghosn's arrest for those allegations last month. Under Japanese law, suspects can be held for 23 days before being formally charged. Prosecutors on Friday also indicted Nissan Motor Co Ltd and former Representative Director Greg Kelly for under-reporting Ghosn's income for those three years. Kelly was arrested in November and released on bail on Christmas Day. Ghosn, Kelly and Nissan have already been indicted for under-reporting Ghosn's income for the five years through 2015. "This second indictment for Kelly comes as no surprise as it merely makes what was a five year period for the first into eight years," said Kelly's lawyer Yoichi Kitamura. Kelly, who was hospitalised for treatment of a neck problem immediately after his release, cannot leave the country without special permission. He has denied the allegations. Kitamura said he expects Ghosn and Kelly to be tried together on the two charges and that he will work closely with Ghosn's legal team to prepare for the trial. In a court hearing on Tuesday, Ghosn denied the allegations, calling them "meritless" and "unsubstantiated". Ghosn in court said he had asked Nissan to temporarily take on his foreign exchange contracts after the 2008-2009 financial crisis prompted his bank to call for more collateral. He said he did this to avoid having to resign and use his retirement allowance for collateral. Motonari Otsuru, the head of Ghosn's legal team, said on Tuesday that Nissan had agreed to the arrangement on condition that any losses or gains would be Ghosn's. Ghosn said the contracts were transferred back to him and that Nissan did not incur a loss. Bail In response to the charges, Nissan said in a statement that it "takes this situation extremely seriously and expresses its deepest regret for any concern caused to its stakeholders." It said it would "continue its efforts to strengthen its governance and compliance, including making accurate disclosures of corporate information." As for Ghosn's alleged shifting of investment losses to Nissan, the company said it "does not in any way tolerate such misconduct and calls for strict penalties." Otsuru said on Friday his team would apply for bail for Ghosn. However, it is uncommon for defendants in Japan who deny their charges to be granted bail ahead of trial. Otsuru earlier this week said Ghosn would likely be held until the trial, which he said could begin in about six months. Even if bail were granted, Ghosn would not likely be released until Tuesday given that Monday is public holiday, and all banks will be closed through the long weekend. The boards of Nissan and its French 43.4 per cent owner, Renault SA, met on Thursday for an update on the Ghosn investigations, with Nissan later saying it remained committed to an alliance which has been strained by the case. Also on Thursday, Ghosn's wife, Carole, issued a statement on his continued detention, asking Japanese authorities for more information on her husband's health after he ran a fever, saying she was worried about his recovery.

Ghosn lawyers seek bail after ex-Nissan chief indicted on two new charges

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Ex-Nissan boss Ghosn suffers 'harsh' treatment in jail, says wife

Ghosn lawyers seek bail after ex-Nissan chief indicted on two new charges