Former Nissan executive Kelly denies helping Ghosn hide earnings

Former Nissan Motor executive Greg Kelly rejected helping ousted automaker’s leader Carlos Ghosn to have hide earnings during his trial in Tokyo on Wednesday that his only goal had been to retain a chief executive who could have been lured away by a competing automaker.

Ghosn fled to Lebanon in December 2019 hidden in carry-on luggage on a private jet that flew out of Kansai Airport, while he awaited trial on charges of financial misconduct, including understating his compensation in financial statements.

Kelly and Ghosn, who also reject the charges, have both said they are victims of a boardroom coup by former colleagues worried the latter would push through a merger between Nissan and Renault SA, which is its largest shareholder.

Taking the witness stand for the first time since his trial started in September, Kelly said, “I didn’t conspire with Mr. Ghosn or other people,” according to a court pool report.

Prosecutors have used that testimony to allege Kelly of being an accomplice in a scheme to hide 9.3 billion yen ($86 million) of Ghosn’s earnings during eight years through deferred payments.

Kelly, who has been on bail in Japan since his release from jail at the end of 2018, is being prosecuted alone after Ghosn fled.

Kelly can face a jail term of up to 15 years and a fine of 10 million yen upon conviction.