Former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn, in his first public appearance since fleeing Japan, accused the country's prosecutors on Wednesday of trying to force a flawed confession.

In an internationally broadcast news conference in Beirut, Ghosn said that while he was under arrest he was questioned for up to eight hours a day, without access to lawyers, and was told his family would suffer if he didn't confess.

""Just confess and it will be over. Not only will we go after you, and we will go after your family,'" the 65-year-old Ghosn said he was told.

Without elaborating, the ex-auto exec also said Japanese prosecutors had leaked false information to the media and concealed evidence that would have helped his case. Japanese prosecutors had no immediate response to Ghosn's comments.

Ghosn was arrested in November 2018 on charges of underreporting his salary, using Nissan money for private investments and employing his sister as a highly paid consultant. He denies wrongdoing.

He escaped from house arrest on Dec. 29 and was flown on a stealth journey that eventually took him to Lebanon, where he has citizenship.