Carlos Ghosn's arrest on Nov. 19 in Tokyo and his fall from the apex of the automotive world was stunning and sudden. The deposed executive is accused of crimes ranging from falsification of documents to diverting millions of dollars from Nissan for his personal use.
Ghosn has proclaimed his innocence on all charges. Pre-trial proceedings began on May 23 for his trial, which probably will not start until 2020. The alliance Ghosn created between Nissan, Renault and Mitsubishi Motors was shaken to its core. In the half year since, the three-way partnership has moved on, while Ghosn prepares for a trial and possible appeals process that could last several years.
Here is a rundown of key developments:
May 23:
Pre-trial proceedings begin at the Tokyo District Court's 17th Criminal Court Division, mainly to narrow the scope of the charges. Judges Kenji Shimozu, Kazunori Fukushima and Kenji Matsushita will preside over the case, then issue a verdict.
April 25:
Lawyers of Ghosn post a bond of $4.5 billion to obtain his release. A court had set the 500 million-yen bond earlier in the day with three conditions: that he live at a registered domestic address, not leave the country, and adhere to requirements meant to prevent the destruction of any evidence related to the case and other conditions.
April 24:
Citing reasons including the "impact of recent corporate issues on sales," Nissan cut its preliminary operating profit for the year ended March 31, marking the first time in a decade that the Japanese automaker would earn less than its French partner Renault.
April 22:
Japanese prosecutors indict Ghosn on fresh charges of misdirecting Nissan's money for his personal use, saying the automaker lost $5 million funneled into accounts controlled by him. These are the most serious allegations so far against Ghosn. His lawyers apply for bail. Nissan also files a criminal complaint to prosecutors, alleging Ghosn drew on the automaker's funds for his own use.
April 19:
National broadcaster NHK says prosecutors will indict Ghosn as soon as April 22 on new charges of aggravated breach of trust French magazine L'Express reports unidentified people saying Ghosn spent $30,000 of Nissan money on luxury items such as Louis Vuitton, Hermes and Ermenegildo Zegna products.
April 16:
Ghosn is said to have improperly charged Renault for a 3,000-euro ($3,370) scooter purchased in 2018.
April 13:
Ghosn's son, Anthony, in an interview with the Asahi newspaper, denies his startup received funds via an investment company that is alleged to have obtained money from Nissan under the deposed executive.
April 12:
A Japanese court approves prosecutors' request to extend Ghosn's detention to April 22 on charges of financial misconduct.
April 9:
Lawyers of Ghosn issue a video of him recorded before he was detained April 4. In the video, Ghosn spoke of "backstabbing" by a few executives who played a "very dirty game." He did not identify the executives by name, and repeated his claim of innocence.
April 8:
Nissan shareholders vote him out as a board director, stripping him of his last title at the automaker. Among the latest allegations, Ghosn is accused of siphoning off $5 million of $15 million that Nissan sent to an overseas distributor between 2015 and 2018, according to Japanese prosecutors. That figure excludes more than $15 million that Nissan found Ghosn to have sent there in prior years, according to people familiar with the matter.
April 5:
The Tokyo District Court approves his detention for another 10 days, keeping him behind bars until April 14 at least.
April 4:
Prosecutors rearrest Ghosn at his Tokyo apartment before 6 a.m., saying he sent Nissan's money to accounts he controlled and that he took a combined $15 million in three instances beginning in 2015. Ghosn calls his detention "outrageous and arbitrary," and says it's "part of another attempt by some individuals at Nissan to silence me by misleading the prosecutors." He pledges his innocence of the "groundless charges and accusations."
April 3:
Ghosn tweets that he plans to hold a press conference on April 11 to "tell the truth" about accusations against him. Soon after the tweet, the Sankei newspaper says prosecutors in Tokyo plan to rearrest Ghosn on a new charge of breach of trust. Renault says certain expenses that Ghosn incurred are a "source of concern, as they involve questionable and concealed practices and violations of the group's ethical principles." The automaker also raises potential issues concerning payments to one of its distributors in the Middle East.
April 2:
Ghosn's lawyer, Junichiro Hironaka, says he should be tried separately from the automaker and accused accomplice Greg Kelly. Hironaka says facing a trial with co-defendants, especially a former employer that's making accusations against him, would put Ghosn at a disadvantage when presenting evidence and calling witnesses.
March 28:
An external corporate-governance panel says Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa signed off on Ghosn's retirement package. A representative for Ghosn says in an email that the deposed executive "acted at all times with the full authority of the Board and its shareholders."
March 12:
Hironaka says Ghosn will assert his innocence when he speaks at a news conference to be held when his health improves.
March 11:
A Tokyo court rejects Ghosn's request to attend a Nissan board meeting on March 12 to discuss its three-way alliance with Renault and Mitsubishi Motors, saying his attendance would violate terms of his bail forbidding him from contacting people involved in the case against him.
March 6:
Ghosn leaves the Tokyo detention center after posting one of the highest bails in Japan's legal history. Conditions include an agreement to remain in Japan, having cameras installed at the entrance and exit of his home, restrictions to using his mobile phone, and having no access to the Internet.
March 5:
A Tokyo court grants bail at 1 billion yen to Ghosn on his third application and rejects prosecutors' appeal against it. Hironaka says the executive agreed to "severe" bail conditions, including staying in Japan, to win approval of his bail application. Ghosn reiterates his innocence and again calls the accusations "meritless and unsubstantiated."
March 4:
Hironaka calls Ghosn's long detention "extremely unfair" and says his legal team is bringing in new ideas and strategies. Hironaka hinted at the involvement of a "higher power" and "politics and economy" related to this case, in addition to saying it "wouldn't be strange" if he secured a not-guilty verdict. Lawyers representing Ghosn's wife, Carole, and four children say the family is appealing to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention for help in securing his release.
Feb. 28:
Ghosn applies for bail again after 100 days in prison. It's the first attempt under his new legal crew.
Feb. 20:
Hironaka holds his first press conference as Ghosn's lawyer, in which he calls the case "bizarre" and alluded to it being a result of a conspiracy inside the automaker.
Feb 13:
Ghosn replaces his legal team with one led by Hironaka, famous for his representation in prominent cases including the successful defense of a former senior bureaucrat against corruption charges. The International Federation for Human Rights says the denial of Ghosn's access to a lawyer during interrogation and his prolonged detention reflect some "serious failings" in Japan's criminal-justice system.
Feb. 7:
Ghosn may have made improper use of a Renault sponsorship deal to pay for his wedding party at the Chateau de Versailles, and received a "personal benefit" worth 50,000 euros, the French automaker said. This marks the first time Renault has disclosed possible improprieties by its jailed former chief.
Jan. 30:
Ghosn says his arrest for alleged financial crimes was the result of a "plot" against him by Nissan executives and a "distortion of reality." In response, Nissan says its own investigation unveiled "substantial and convincing evidence of misconduct."
Jan. 29:
French President Emmanuel Macron tells Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that Ghosn's detention is "too long and too hard."
Jan. 23:
Ghosn resigns as chairman and chief executive officer of Renault.
Jan. 22:
Ghosn is denied bail despite offering to wear an electronic tracker and be monitored by guards.
Jan. 21:
Ghosn makes another application for bail, the second since he was indicted over aggravated breach of trust.
Jan. 18:
Ghosn's lawyer Motonari Otsuru reapplies for bail to the Tokyo District Court. Nissan says Ghosn improperly received 7.8 million euros from a joint venture with Mitsubishi Motors.
Jan. 17:
Ghosn's lawyers file appeal to the court's decision to reject bail. The appeal is also turned down.
Jan. 15:
The Tokyo District Court turns down Ghosn's bail application. The rejection means he will have to stay in jail for at least another two months.
Jan. 11:
Prosecutors indict Ghosn again, this time for aggravated breach of trust. Ghosn's lawyer Otsuru says he will apply for bail.
Jan. 10:
Ghosn comes down with a fever in jail, prompting authorities to halt his interrogation.
Jan. 9:
He loses an appeal against his detention.
Jan. 8:
Ghosn attends a hearing at a court in Tokyo in his first public appearance since being arrested, with handcuffs, plastic slippers and a rope around his waist. He rejects prosecutors' allegations, saying he has been "wrongly accused and unfairly detained based on meritless and unsubstantiated accusations."
Dec. 31:
Ghosn's detention is extended for 10 more days, until Jan. 11.
Dec. 26:
Ghosn's aide Kelly is released from jail.
Dec. 25:
Prosecutors appeal a Tokyo District Court decision to grant Kelly bail, set at 70 million yen, which he posted in cash.
Dec. 21:
Japanese prosecutors re-arrest Ghosn on more serious allegations of financial misconduct, saying he is suspected of inflicting financial damage to Nissan from his own unprofitable investments. The re-arrest allows them to keep Ghosn in jail for at least a further 10 days. Kelly's lawyer applies for bail for him.
Dec. 20:
A Tokyo court refused prosecutors' request to further extend the detentions of Ghosn and Kelly by 10 days. The prosecutors' appeal against this was also rejected, bolstering his odds for bail. Ghosn's lawyers said earlier they would apply for bail.
Dec. 10:
Ghosn and Nissan are both indicted for understating his income by about $43 million. Kelly is also indicted for aiding Ghosn in underreporting the income.
Nov. 28:
Ghosn, through his lawyer Otsuru, denies media reports that he passed on personal trading losses to Nissan.
Nov. 26:
Mitsubishi Motors ousts Ghosn as chairman.
Nov. 22:
Nissan dismisses Ghosn as chairman and strips Kelly of his representative-director role. A Nissan official says the automaker provided Ghosn with six houses including in Tokyo and New York.
Nov. 21:
Renault names Thierry Bollore interim deputy CEO with the same powers as Ghosn, while stopping short of dismissing the arrested executive from the French automaker.
Nov. 19:
Ghosn is arrested in Tokyo for alleged financial crimes along with Nissan representative director Kelly. At a late-night press conference, Nissan CEO Saikawa expressed disappointment and indignation at Ghosn's alleged misconduct, including using company funds for personal investments and misusing corporate assets.
