TOKYO — Carlos Ghosn was indicted Monday on charges that he misappropriated funds sent by Nissan Motor Co. to a distributor in the Middle East, clearing the way for him to seek release on bail.
Tokyo prosecutors arrested the former Nissan 7201, -1.70% and Renault SA RNO, +0.92% chairman April 4 — his fourth arrest since Nov. 19. In the latest set of charges, prosecutors allege that between 2017 and 2018 Ghosn arranged for a company he controlled to receive a portion of money sent by Nissan to its overseas distributor. Of a total $10 million sent by Nissan during this period, prosecutors allege Ghosn received $5 million.
Prosecutors haven’t named the distributor, but Ghosn’s legal team has identified it as Oman-based Suhail Bahwan Automobiles. Nissan has investigated whether the Omani company helped Ghosn obtain a yacht and whether it helped fund an investment company partly owned by Ghosn’s son, people familiar with the investigation have said.
Ghosn has said he is innocent of all the allegations he faces.
Previously, Ghosn was charged with misstating deferred compensation on Nissan’s annual financial statements submitted to regulators and funneling Nissan money to the business of a Saudi friend who helped him with a personal financial problem.
An expanded version of this report can be found at WSJ.com
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Write to Sean McLain at sean.mclain@wsj.com
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