Japanese court extends Carlos Ghosn’s detention until April 22

A Japanese court on Friday ruled that Carlos Ghosn will remain in detention until April 22, as prosecutors grill the former Nissan boss over allegations of financial misconduct.

Tokyo District Court extended Ghosn's detention by eight days after a judge refused prosecutors' requests for the maximum 10 days, a decision that public broadcaster NHK said was rare.

Ghosn’s lawyers immediately appealed the decision and have already asked the Supreme Court to intervene in his detention.

But unless the appeals succeed, the 65-year-old will be held in custody at a detention center in Tokyo until April 22, whereupon authorities will either have to press formal charges, release him or re-arrest him if they feel he has other accusations to answer.

Prosecutors are looking into allegations that Ghosn siphoned off some $5 million from funds allegedly transferred from Nissan to a dealership in Oman, and spent the money on a luxury superyacht.

Ghosn has not been formally charged over these allegations.

But the tycoon is awaiting trial on other financial misconduct and aggravated breach of trust charges. He was arrested for those in November and bailed early in March after 108 days in jail.

Ghosn denies all allegations and lashed out in a video message - shown on April 9 - at what he termed a "plot" by "backstabbing" Nissan executives scared of closer integration with French partner firm Renault.

Ghosn's wife Carole has increasingly become a key figure in the case and was questioned by authorities on Thursday.

Once hailed as Nissan's savior, Ghosn is fighting to restore his reputation as the firm says an internal investigation uncovered "substantial evidence of blatantly unethical conduct" by the former boss.

He was removed almost immediately from the head of the company and later resigned as boss of Renault as he fights the allegations.

Nissan shareholders have also removed him as a board member.