Carlos Ghosn’s fourth stay in police custody ends on 11 January and his lawyers appeal the refusal to grant bail. On 15 January 2019, the Tokyo Court announces its second refusal to grant bail.
Despite greater international pressure since the start of January and numerous public stances regarding the Japanese “hostage justice” system, the judges considered that there is too high a risk that Carlos Ghosn would run or destroy evidence.
In legal terms, Carlos Ghosn, therefore, goes into pretrial detention, as a result of three charges. Such detention may not exceed two months. Carlos Ghosn then stays, theoretically, in detention until 10 March and in the interim, his lawyers submit further requests for bail.
Meanwhile, in France, on 16 January 2019, Bruno Le Maire announces that the French State will ask Renault’s board to name Carlos Ghosn’s successor. Under the constraints of his detention in Japan for the foreseeable future, he is not able to fulfill his role.
Nearly two months after Nissan quickly jettisoned Carlos Ghosn, this request from the French Economy and Finance Minister appears while at the same time his team is promoting French interests to Nissan in Japan. Was it a diplomatic concession or a mere coincidence?
Renault acknowledges this decision in a news release of 17 January 2019 before announcing the following day excellent financial results for 2018.
An era comes to an end at Renault as Carlos Ghosn is going to be replaced.
Determined to leave jail, Carlos Ghosn submits a second request for bail on Friday 18 January.
In another surprising coincidence, it is precisely then that Nissan confirms through a news release information previously spread in the media. The release confirms that an internal investigation had identified fraudulent expenses of €8 million with Nissan’s subsidiary NMBV.