Japanese prosecutors ask judges to question Ghosn's wife: NHK

TOKYO (Reuters) – Tokyo prosecutors have asked the judges to question Carlos Ghosn's wife over funds allegedly hijacked by former Nissan Motor president, Japanese public broadcaster NHK said on Sunday.

Prosecutors again arrested Ghosn on Thursday on suspicion of trying to get rich at Nissan's expense, according to another dramatic turning point, which his lawyers said was an attempt to muzzle him.

According to NHK, prosecutors suspect Ghosn of having siphoned some of the payments through a company whose wife, Carole, is responsible for the purchase of a yacht and a boat.

Prosecutors asked him to meet them for a voluntary examination as an unsworn witness, but this request was denied, prompting them to ask the judges to question him on their behalf before they were released. open the first hearing on the charges, said the broadcaster.

Such a request gives judges the power to question witnesses who refuse to testify, according to NHK.

Prosecutors were not immediately available to comment on the NHK report.

Ghosn's chief attorney, Junichiro Hironaka, said on Thursday that prosecutors had confiscated his mobile phone, documents, notebooks and diaries, as well as his wife's pbadport and mobile phone.

Under Japanese law, prosecutors will be able to keep Ghosn up to 22 days without charge. The new arrest opens the possibility that he will be questioned again in the absence of his lawyer, as that is the norm in Japan.

The additional indictment would likely prolong Ghosn's trial, which is expected to begin later this year, his lawyer said, adding that the loss of access to Ghosn's trial documents could put his client at a disadvantage.