Ghosn to Make Court Appearance on Tues.

Tokyo, Jan. 4 (Jiji Press)--Former Nissan Motor Co. <7201> Chairman Carlos Ghosn is expected to appear in court on Tuesday to defend himself against allegations of financial misconduct, informed sources said Friday. Tokyo District Court said on Friday it will hold a hearing on Tuesday to give the Ghosn side reasons for his detention. At the hearing, Ghosn, who is suspected of shifting his personal losses to Nissan, is expected to claim that he did not cause any damages to the Japanese automaker. He is also expected to request that his detention be ended. Ghosn has said that he would like to speak in court if there is an opportunity to do so, according to his lawyer. The Japanese criminal procedure law allows defendants and lawyers to request that reasons for detentions be disclosed at hearings. Defendants are allowed to give their views at such hearings. Ghosn is suspected of shifting a financial derivatives contract with some 1.85 billion yen in appraisal losses to Nissan in October 2008. He then allegedly had Nissan pay a total of 14.7 million dollars to a Saudi Arabian businessman acquaintance in 2009-2012 for his help in bringing the contract back from Nissan. In addition, Ghosn has been charged with understating his compensation in Nissan's financial reports. Ghosn has been in custody since he was first arrested in Tokyo on Nov. 19. On Monday, the court extended his detention until Jan. 11. END