Carlos Ghosn sues Nissan-Mitsubishi in the Netherlands

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Carlos Ghosn sued the Netherlands against Japanese automakers Nissan Motor7201.T) and Mitsubishi Motors (7211.T), who removed him from the post of president of their alliance last year for corruption, reported Saturday the Dutch newspaper NRC.

Ghosn is claiming 15 million euros ($ 16.8 million) in damages from automakers. Serious mistakes were made during his dismissal, NRC reported, citing his lawyer.

"In the Netherlands, if you want to dismiss a leader, you must first tell him what he is accused of and you must provide him with evidence to support him. None of these things happened, "said Laurens de Graaf's lawyer at NRC.

Ghosn fell out of favor last year when he was arrested in Japan and fired by Nissan for financial misconduct, which he denies. He was also fired as CEO and president of the French car manufacturer Renault (RENA.PA).

Ghosn was released in April from his prison in Japan on bail of $ 4.5 million.

Among the other charges of fraud and misconduct, Nissan and Mitsubishi said Ghosn was wrongly awarded a $ 9 million compensation from their joint venture.

The suspicious expenses that Ghosn had incurred when he chaired Renault and Nissan rose to about 11 million euros, Renault's council announced in June.

Ghosn has French, Lebanese and Brazilian nationality, but opted for the tax status of the Netherlands, more fiscally more favorable, in 2012. The Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance holding company is also incorporated in the Netherlands.

The Amsterdam District Court is reviewing the case but has not yet set a date for the trial, NRC said.