TOKYO — Prosecutors in Japan on Monday indicted Carlos Ghosn, the former chairman of Nissan Motor, and the auto company itself on charges that they had violated financial laws by underreporting Mr. Ghosn’s compensation.

Mr. Ghosn, once among the auto industry’s most respected executives, was arrested three weeks ago by the Japanese authorities. The allegations have upended a carmaking empire that includes Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors in Japan and Renault in France.

In addition to the formal charges announced Monday, which cover allegations related to actions from 2011 to 2015, the authorities rearrested Mr. Ghosn on similar charges stemming from a subsequent period. Mr. Ghosn, 64, has been held in detention in Tokyo since his arrest on Nov. 19.

Motonari Otsuru, a lawyer for Mr. Ghosn, could not immediately be reached for comment.

In response to the indictment, Nissan said in a statement that it would strengthen its compliance efforts. It did not deny the charges.