Dismissal of Nissan chief is being seen as a battle between Japan carmaker and Renault
Nissan‘s former chair Carlos Ghosn has denied allegations that he used company funds to pay for his luxury lifestyle, claiming he had no intention of making false financial statements.
The Brazil-born tycoon, who has not spoken publicly since he was arrested last Monday, told prosecutors he did not intend to understate his income on financial reports, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK.
Ghosn, who was sacked as Nissan chairman last Thursday, is at the centre of a corruption investigation that has stunned the business world and put in doubt one of the most successful car alliances of the last 20 years.
The scandal is also being viewed increasingly as a battle between Nissan and Renault, the French car company that Ghosn also runs and which has a controlling share in the Japanese carmaker.
Prosecutors accuse Ghosn and fellow executive Greg Kelly of underreporting the former chairman’s income by around 5bn yen ($44m).
