Carlos Ghosn says he's victim of a ‘plot’ by Nissan executives

Carlos Ghosn said his arrest for alleged financial crimes was the result of a plot against him by Nissan Motor Co. executives trying to prevent the Japanese carmaker’s deeper integration with Renault SA.

The Japanese company had a plan to combine with Renault and third partner Mitsubishi Motors Corp., Ghosn told Japans Nikkei newspaper in his first interview since his arrest that shocked the global automotive industry. The proposed merger was discussed with Nissan Chief Executive Officer Hiroto Saikawa in September, he said.

The allegations against him were the result of plot and treason, Ghosn said, according to Nikkei. Ghosn has denied wrongdoing.

In response, a Nissan spokesman said Wednesday that Saikawa has already categorically refuted the notion of a coup.

Ghosn has been in custody since his Nov. 19 arrest in Tokyo. He was indicted for allegedly understating his income at Nissan and transferring personal trading losses to the carmaker. He’s been denied bail repeatedly after prosecutors argued he’s a flight risk, and his lawyers say he could stay in custody until a trial that may be six months away.

Ghosn stepped down as chairman and CEO of Renault, Frances largest carmaker, last week, two months after Nissan stripped him of his roles. While Renault named Michelin CEO Jean-Dominique Senard as its chairman last week, Nissan has yet to name a new chairman.

While both companies repeatedly say they are committed to the partnership, Nissan has long been unhappy about what it considers to be an outsized French role in the alliance. Renault owns about 43 percent of Nissan with voting rights, while Nissan has a 15 percent non-voting stake in Renault.

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