Ex-Nissan chief Ghosn freed on bail after three months in jail

ormer Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn left a Tokyo jail on Wednesday after more than 100 days of detention, a day after a surprise court decision granting him bail of one billion yen ($9 million).

Ghosn left the detention centre in northern Tokyo flanked by prison guards, wearing a blue cap, a white medical face mask and a work jacket with orange reflective stripes.

His bail was the latest twist in a case that has gripped Japan and the business world since the auto industry titan's November 19 arrest.

The 64-year-old faces three charges of financial misconduct over allegations he under-reported his compensation and tried to shift losses to Nissan's books.

He has strongly denied the claims, and said in a statement overnight he was looking forward to his day in court.

"I am innocent and totally committed to vigorously defending myself in a fair trial against these meritless and unsubstantiated accusations," he said.

Prosecutors could still seek to rearrest Ghosn if they file new allegations against him, but for now the auto tycoon is out of detention thought still facing strict limits on his movement and communications.

Ghosn had applied for bail twice previously without success, but he shook up his legal team last month, hiring renowned defence attorney Junichiro Hironaka, who quickly filed a new request.

The court had previously justified Ghosn's ongoing detention by saying he posed a flight risk and could seek to destroy evidence, so Hironaka's bail request offered restrictions intended to win the court's trust.

(AFP)