Former Carlos Ghosn aide Greg Kelly pleads not guilty as trial opens in Japan

Ghosn, the former Nissan boss, fled Japan for Lebanon last year, leaving his right-hand man Kelly as the only person facing financial misconduct charges

The trial, expected to last around 10 months, centres on whether Kelly and Nissan illegally concealed payments promised to Ghosn on retirement

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Former Nissan executive Greg Kelly arrives for the first hearing in his financial misconduct trial at the Tokyo District Court on Tuesday. Photo: AP

Published: 4:07pm, 15 Sep 2020Updated: 11:24pm, 15 Sep 2020

Greg Kelly, a former aide to ex-Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to a charge of financial misconduct as the trial against him began in Japan.

Ghosn is now at large as an international fugitive, after jumping bail and fleeing Japan for Lebanon last year, leaving his right-hand man Kelly as the only person facing trial in the roller coaster saga.

Kelly entered a plea of not guilty on Tuesday to the single charge he faces – conspiring to under-report tens of millions of dollars in pay that Ghosn was allegedly promised after his retirement.

“I deny the allegations. I was not involved in a criminal conspiracy,” Kelly said.

The trial, expected to last around 10 months, centres around the question of whether Kelly and Nissan illegally concealed payments between 2010 and 2018 of around 9.2 billion yen (US$87 million at today’s rates) promised to Ghosn on retirement.