Carlos Ghosn’s newly appointed Tokyo-based lawyer, Junichiro Hironaka, has signaled confidence in securing his client’s release on bail through a revised legal strategy, according to a March 2019 briefing. Hironaka, known for handling high-profile cases, disclosed plans to abandon previous approaches that failed to obtain pre-trial freedom for the former Nissan chairman.
Ghosn, detained since late November 2018 over allegations of underreporting compensation at Nissan Motor Co Ltd, faces charges of aggravated breach of trust. His legal team is preparing a third bail application, with the executive reportedly willing to accept stringent conditions including video surveillance and communication monitoring.
Previous bail offers, such as ankle bracelets and security guards, were rejected by courts citing risks of evidence tampering. Hironaka emphasized building trust with Ghosn despite language barriers, stating he has studied the executive’s books to better understand his client. The lawyer criticized Japan’s judicial system, noting only 3% of not-guilty pleas result in acquittals.
The defense team is engaged in pre-trial discovery processes with prosecutors, a procedure expected to last months. Hironaka, 73, described his appointment as an opportunity to test his legal acumen, though he declined to detail specific strategies. The case remains pivotal for the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi alliance, which has faced uncertainty since Ghosn’s arrest.
