Carlos Ghosn, the former Nissan Motor chairman, was released from Tokyo Detention Center on March 6, 2019, after posting $9 million bail, but faces stringent conditions while awaiting trial for alleged financial misconduct.
Bail Restrictions Include Surveillance and Communication Limits ¶
Ghosn’s new legal team secured his release with requirements that prohibit internet and email access, restrict computer use to a lawyer’s office, and mandate surveillance cameras at his Tokyo residence. Footage will be monitored by defense attorneys and submitted to the Tokyo District Court, according to his lawyer Junichiro Hironaka.
The cameras, installed at the entrance, will track comings and goings rather than daily activities, Hironaka stated. His team will rotate monitoring duties, as one attorney cannot manage the task alone, he said. Phone call records will also be retained by the legal team, with deletions unable to erase data permanently.
Travel Restrictions and Legal Challenges ¶
Ghosn is barred from leaving Japan and must remain in Tokyo, requiring court approval for absences exceeding two nights. His previous legal team had sought a GPS ankle monitor, but the new team convinced the court to replace it with stricter non-technological safeguards.
Prosecutors criticized the conditions as insufficient to prevent evidence tampering, while legal experts called them unusually harsh for Japan. The Tokyo District Court did not comment on enforcement mechanisms.
Disguise and Secrecy During Release ¶
Ghosn exited the detention center wearing a surgical mask, glasses, and work attire to avoid media recognition, as revealed by lead lawyer Takashi Takano. The ruse partially succeeded, with many journalists failing to identify him amid the crowd.
Despite the restrictions, Ghosn was spotted walking in Tokyo with his wife. He remains prohibited from contacting Nissan executives or attending board meetings without court approval, though he retains his board membership pending shareholder approval in April 2019.
