Greg Kelly, ex-right arm of Carlos Ghosn at Nissan, sentenced to six months of suspended prison in Japan

The American was accused of having helped to minor the revenue returns of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance.

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The American Greg Kelly, ancient very close collaborator of Carlos Ghosn, the deprived leader of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, was sentenced Thursday, March 3 to six months of suspended prison for helping to minor the statements revenue from Mr. Ghosn, in violation of Japanese law on financial instruments and securities.

The Prosecution was a total of 9.1 billion yen (71 million euros) concealed for eight years until the 2017 fiscal year. According to the parquet floor which had required two years in prison, it is Acts to avoid critics on the amounts perceived by Mr. Ghosn. Since 2009, Japan has been forgotten to make the salaries of their leaders public.

“Acknowledged by the period between 2010 and 2016, Mr. Kelly was convicted for his actions during the 2017 financial year, including the payment of stock options to Mr. Ghosn having created a difference of approximately 750 millions of yen in the declared compensation. He could appeal, his lawyers who indicated that he would dispute any conviction, even suspended.

The Nissan group, also accused in this case and pleading guilty, was sentenced to a fine of 200 million yen.

Lawyer himself, Greg Kelly has integrated Nissan’s US subsidiary in 1988. His progress has led him in 2012 to the position of director. His office was near Carlos Ghosn at the headquarters of the Nippon manufacturer in Yokohama (South of Tokyo). He had the high hand on the business concerning the leader.

Arrested on the same day as his superior, on November 19, 2018, on his arrival of the United States, Greg Kelly was indicted and released on December 25 of the same year against a deposit of 70 million yen.

The question “should have been set internally at Nissan”

Carlos Ghosn was indicted for the same offense but also for confidence abuse and aggravated trusted abuse. Released on bail in April 2019, Mr. Ghosn, subsequently fled Japan to take refuge in Lebanon, leaving Mr. Kelly alone for the trial. Arrested in the United States and extradited to the archipelago, the two Americans who helped him in his flight, Michael Taylor and his son Peter, are today in prison.

Having always claimed his innocence, Mr. Kelly did not leave the archipelago. His wife joined him and attended most of the 76 trial hearings started in September 2020. The former director said to himself confidently asked the verdict. “There was no need to make a statement because Carlos Ghosn was never paid,” he defended himself. According to him, the question “should have been settled internally at Nissan and had nothing criminal”.

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/Media reports.