Carlos Ghosn to be indicted on new charges April 22, NHK Says

A lengthy prison stay with limited access to lawyers may make it harder for Mr Ghosn to prepare for trial

Another lengthy stay in prison, with limited access to his lawyers, could make it harder for Mr Ghosn to prepare for a trial. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Carlos Ghosn will be indicted on a fresh round of charges on April 22 as Japanese prosecutors pursue their case against the former chairman of Nissan broadcaster NHK reported Friday.

Prosecutors will indict Mr Ghosn as soon as Monday on new charges of aggravated breach of trust, the national broadcaster said without identifying sources. Monday is the deadline for the former auto executive’s current detention period. The charges are related to activities in the Middle East that funneled Nissan’s money for Mr Ghosn’s personal gain, NHK said.

Mr Ghosn, who was arrested for the first time in November, is being held in a Tokyo jail. The former auto executive briefly won his freedom on bail in March, but was arrested and jailed again on new allegations of sending million of dollars from Nissan money to accounts he controlled. A new indictment will keep Mr Ghosn detained for longer.

The former chairman of Nissan and alliance partners Renault and Mitsubishi Motors has denied the allegations as well as previously filed charges accusing him of falsifying financial information and breach of trust.

Another lengthy stay in prison, with limited access to his lawyers, could make it harder for Mr Ghosn to prepare for a trial that may start later this year or next year.