Carlos Ghosn case: key dates
Carlos Ghosn has said his ongoing detention would "not be normal in any other democracy" and called the Nissan probe "a story of betrayal"
Here are some key dates since former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn was arrested out of the blue in November, stunning Japan and the business world.
- November 19: Shock arrest -
Investigators from the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office arrest Ghosn after his private jet touches down at Haneda Airport.
His right-hand man and close aide Greg Kelly is also arrested.
Accused of financial misconduct, including under-reporting Ghosn's salary between 2010 and 2015, they are detained for investigation for a period that is extended twice to December 10.
Both deny wrongdoing.
In an emotional news conference that evening, Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa tells reporters: "Too much authority was given to one person in terms of governance," referring to "a dark side of the Ghosn era".
- November 20: Renault names interim boss -
After an emergency board meeting, French car giant Renault says Thierry Bollore will take over with Ghosn "temporarily incapacitated" following his arrest.
Bollore, previously the chief operating officer, is appointed deputy CEO with the "same powers" as Ghosn.
Days later, Renault launches an internal audit into Ghosn's pay.
- November 22: Fired by Nissan -
Nissan's board votes unanimously to "discharge" Ghosn as chairman. Four days later, he is also fired as boss of Mitsubishi Motors.
- November 29: Alliance affirms unity -
Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors reaffirm their commitment to their alliance in the first meeting of company leaders since Ghosn's arrest.
Ghosn had been seen as the glue binding together the complex three-way structure that makes up the world's top-selling auto company.
- December 10: Charges and rearrest -
Ghosn is formally charged on the initial allegations of under-reporting his salary between 2010 and 2015, with prosecutors also re-arresting him on allegations of further under-reporting in the last three years.
- December 21: New allegations -
Prosecutors rearrest Ghosn over fresh allegations that he transferred losses from personal financial investments to Nissan, apparently dashing his hopes of early release.
His detention is subsequently prolonged twice until January 11.
Kelly wins bail on December 25 on the condition he stays in Japan.
- January 8: First public appearance since arrest -
Ghosn attends a hearing at the Tokyo District Court in his first public appearance since his arrest. He says in a statement he has been "wrongly accused and unfairly detained".
But the judge says the ongoing detention is justified because he poses a flight risk and could tamper with evidence.
- January 11: New charges -
Prosecutors file two new formal charges of financial misconduct against Ghosn, meaning he sits in pre-trial detention.
- January 15: Bail denied -
The court denies Ghosn's bail request, dashing his hopes of immediate release.
- January 18: Nissan allegations -
Nissan presents more results from its ongoing probe, saying Ghosn pocketed eight million euros ($9.1 million) in "improper" pay from a Netherlands-based joint venture. The firm threatens to sue to recover the funds.
- January 21: Personal appeal -
Ghosn issues a personal appeal to the court, vowing he would not seek to leave Japan before a trial and offering to wear an electronic tagging bracelet.
- January 22: Bail denied again -
The court again denies the tycoon bail.
- January 31: Ghosn speaks from jail -
Ghosn speaks to AFP from his prison cell, saying that his ongoing detention would "not be normal in any other democracy" and calling the Nissan probe "a story of betrayal".
- February 13: Legal shake-up -
In a surprise move, Ghosn shakes up his legal team, replacing former prosecutor Motonari Otsuru with Junichiro Hironaka, a hotshot defence lawyer known as the "razor" for his mental sharpness.
- March 5: Third time lucky -
On March 5 the court approves a third bail request filed by the new legal team. It is set at one billion yen ($9 million, eight million euros).
Ghosn says in a statement he is innocent and will "strongly" defend himself against "unfounded" charges.
- March 6: Release from detention centre -
In front of the world's media, Ghosn walks out of the detention centre wearing a medical face mask and a workman's outfit.
- April 3: Twitter announcement -
Ghosn takes to Twitter to announce a press conference for April 11, vowing to "tell the truth" about his case.
- April 4: Rearrest -
In a dawn raid of his Tokyo apartment, Ghosn is rearrested as investigators probe suspect payments to a Nissan distributor in Oman.
Ghosn slams the arrest as "outrageous" and "arbitrary", saying authorities were trying to silence him.
- April 5: Extension -
The court grants prosecutors a further 10 days to question Ghosn, setting his detention until at least April 14.
