In March 2019, Junichiro Hironaka, the newly appointed chief lawyer for former Nissan Motor Co Ltd chairman Carlos Ghosn, announced a strategic shift in defending his client against financial misconduct charges while expressing optimism about securing Ghosn's release from custody.
Hironaka, known in Japan for successfully defending high-profile cases, replaced Ghosn's previous counsel last month. At a media briefing, he stated the team would abandon the prior legal approach, saying, "We will proceed with a new legal strategy."
Ghosn, detained in Tokyo since late November 2018, faces charges including underreporting compensation from 2008 to 2018 and alleged misappropriation of company funds. His legal team argues these matters should have been resolved internally rather than through judicial proceedings.
The former Nissan chairman, who has consistently denied wrongdoing, accused former colleagues of orchestrating a conspiracy to undermine his leadership amid tensions with Renault SA. Nissan alleges Ghosn deferred compensation and shifted personal financial losses onto the company’s books during the 2008 financial crisis.
Hironaka criticized the judicial system for prolonging Ghosn's custody, noting the case remains under review as the defense prepares to challenge the charges through a restructured legal framework.
