Lawyer apologizes for Ghosn’s ‘disguise’ during release

FILE: PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 29, 2016 : CEO Renault Nissan Carlos Ghosn in press conference to introduce the concept car Trezor and the new battery life of the Renault Zoe at the the Paris motor show (Frederic Legrand – COMEO / Shutterstock.com)

TOKYO — The mystery of Carlos Ghosn’s strange attire when he was released from Japanese detention has been solved, with his lawyer saying Friday that it was an effort to protect the former chairman of Nissan from intense media attention.

Many had been baffled by why Ghosn was wearing a blue cap, surgical mask and a construction worker’s outfit when he was released on bail Wednesday. The disguise has riveted Japanese tabloid media, with one TV show even featuring a reenactment with a man dressed in the same outfit.

Lawyer Takashi Takano said in a blog post that he takes full responsibility for what he called the “theatre of disguise” and he apologized for its failure.

The crowd of media that had been at the facility, waiting for hours, spotted Ghosn despite his outfit and followed the van he entered across town in a spectacle broadcast live on television.

“My immature plan, as a result, has tarnished the reputation that he has devoted his whole life to build,” Takano said of his client.

Ghosn, who headed the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Motors alliance, has been charged with falsifying financial reports, under-reporting his income and breach of trust in having Nissan Motor Co. shoulder personal investment losses and make payments to a Saudi businessman.

He says he is innocent and that the income allegedly under-reported was never paid or decided, that Nissan never suffered the investment losses and the payments were for legitimate services.

Takano asked the media to give his client privacy, saying people who face trial need to regain their normal lives.

In Japan, suspects are routinely kept in detention until preparations for their trials are ready, meaning they are often detained for months. The court rejected two earlier requests by Ghosn for bail.

Ghosn was arrested Nov. 19 and his freedom came after 108 days.

Takano was successful in winning Ghosn’s relatively early release by offering special conditions such as a surveillance camera, restrictions on internet use as well as a specified place of residence.

Any violation of such restrictions could send Ghosn back into detention.

Takano said he came up with the disguise scheme because he was worried that the place Ghosn will be living “would be known throughout the world.” He said “by some miracle” Ghosn was able to reunite quietly with his family in his new residence.

Takano has a reputation for winning quick release on bail. He is also known for having studied U.S. law and being aware of international standards in the criminal justice system.

Ghosn’s legal team also includes Junichiro Hironaka, reputed for winning high-profile acquittals in a nation where the conviction rate is 99 per cent.

Nissan, which makes the March subcompact, Leaf electric car and Infiniti luxury models, has declined comment on the criminal case, but says its investigation has found misconduct by Ghosn.

Ghosn led Nissan for two decades, saving the Yokohama-based automaker from near bankruptcy.