Former Nissan executive Kelly's trial to start in Tokyo without Ghosn
<p style="text-align: center;"><img title="1600156497110806.png" alt="6.png" src="/ueditor/php/upload/image/20200915/1600156497110806.png"/></p><p>Former Nissan Motor Co Ltd executive Greg Kelly goes on trial in Tokyo on Tuesday, almost two years after prosecutors charged the American lawyer with helping his ex-boss, Carlos Ghosn, hide his earnings.<br/><br/>Kelly, who has been on bail in Japan since his release from jail in 2018, denies wrongdoing. He goes to court without co-accused Ghosn, who fled to Lebanon in December, following a dramatic escape from Japan.<br/><br/>"I'd love to have him here to testify. I think it is a little hard for everything to come out when the main witness isn't here," Kelly said of Ghosn in an interview aired by Japanese broadcaster TBS on Monday.</p><p><br/></p><p>"I am not guilty of violating any laws in Japan."<br/><br/>Kelly, who was a representative director at Nissan, has been charged with helping Ghosn hide 9.3 billion yen ($88 million) in compensation over eight years through deferred payments.<br/><br/>The trial, in which Nissan is also a defendant, could take about a year. If found guilty, Kelly could face up to 10 years in prison and a 10 million yen ($94,330) fine.<br/><br/>The proceedings will include evidence and testimony from some prominent company executives, including a former chief executive, Hiroto Saikawa, that could shine a light on the inner workings of the Japanese automaker.<br/><br/>The renewed spotlight on Nissan comes as it attempts to rein in losses and revamp an aging vehicle line-up following Ghosn's departure as chief executive. The company, like other carmakers, is also struggling with a drop in demand and disruptions in production caused by the coronavirus.<br/><br/>Nissan has cooperated with prosecutors. It declined to comment.<br/><br/>The trial has also focused international attention on judicial practices that critics in Japan and overseas see as overly harsh.<br/><br/>Prisoners on remand are sometimes kept in isolation and often refused bail if they deny charges brought against them. Detainees are also interrogated without a lawyer present.</p><p><br/></p><p>The conviction rate in Japan is about 99%.<br/><br/>Ghosn was smuggled out of Japan in a speaker case on a private jet as he awaited trial on charges of under-reporting earnings, breach of trust and misappropriation of company funds, all of which he denies.<br/><br/>After the disappearance of the once-feted executive, Japan said it guaranteed individuals' rights and had dealt appropriately with him.<br/><br/>Ghosn, who also ran French carmaker Renault SA, faces two separate breach of trust charges that he enriched himself at Nissan's expense through $5 million in payments to a Middle East car dealership, and that he temporarily transferred personal financial losses to his employer's books.<br/><br/>Ghosn said he was a victim of a boardroom coup by former colleagues worried he would push through a merger between Nissan and Renault, its largest shareholder.</p>
15 Sep,2020
