KYODO NEWS - Feb 13, 2019 - 21:59 | All, World

A Japanese lawyer known for winning acquittals in high-profile cases was picked Wednesday to defend former Nissan Motor Co. Chairman Carlos Ghosn, who has remained in detention for nearly three months over alleged financial misconduct.

Junichiro Hironaka, known in judicial circles as the "acquittal guarantor," replaced Motonari Otsuru as chief lawyer for Ghosn. Otsuru, a former head of the special squad of Tokyo prosecutors investigating the financial misconduct allegations, repeatedly failed to win court approval for Ghosn's release on bail.

(Junichiro Hironaka)

Otsuru told reporters he and another prosecutor-turned-lawyer, Masato Oshikubo, had filed their resignations as Ghosn's counsel at the Tokyo District Court, a day before the court holds a meeting with prosecutors and defense lawyers to discuss how to proceed with the trial of Ghosn, who was arrested in November along with his close aide Greg Kelly.

Hironaka and another newly picked lawyer, Hiroshi Kawatsu, are expected to attend the meeting, the source said.

"I decided (to take the case) after consulting with Mr. Ghosn and his family," Hironaka told reporters.

Hironaka is credited with helping to acquit high-profile defendants such as businessman Kazuyoshi Miura, who faced a murder charge over the shooting of his former wife in the early 1980s in Los Angeles, and Atsuko Muraki, a former senior welfare ministry official who was charged in 2009 with involvement in abusing a postal discount system for handicapped people.

He also acted as chief lawyer for Ichiro Ozawa, an influential lawmaker who now co-heads the small opposition Liberal Party, in 2011 when Ozawa was indicted over alleged false reporting by his political funds body. Ozawa was later acquitted.

Ghosn has been detained in Tokyo, accused of understating his remuneration in Nissan's financial statements for years and transferring derivatives losses from his private asset management company to the Japanese automaker's books.

Both Ghosn and Kelly, who has been released on bail, have denied the allegations against them.

The court has rejected Ghosn's requests for bail, judging there was a risk he could destroy evidence. But his prolonged confinement has sparked criticism, especially from overseas.

Otsuru said at a press conference in January that Ghosn is unlikely to be granted bail before the start of his trial. He also said it could take at least six months for the trial to begin due to the complexity of the case.

Nissan quickly removed Ghosn as chairman after his arrest, and the head of France's Renault SA replaced him as chairman and CEO last month.

The heads of the two automakers will meet Thursday in Japan to discuss the future of their alliance.

(Motonari Otsuru)