Ousted Nissan chairman Ghosn to remain behind bars even longer

TOKYO — A Tokyo court ruled Tuesday that Nissan Motor Co.’s former chairman, Carlos Ghosn, and another executive will remain in custody through Dec. 20, more than a month after their arrest. Their detention could continue for months more under the Japanese legal system.

The Tokyo District Court said Tuesday that it had rejected a protest filed by Ghosn’s lawyer against the prolonged detention.

The court decision comes a day after Ghosn, fellow Nissan executive Greg Kelly and Nissan Motor were charged with violating financial laws by underreporting Ghosn’s pay by about 5 billion yen ($44 million) from 2011 to 2015. They were arrested Nov. 19 and are being held at a Tokyo detention center.

The extension of their detention is to allow time for investigation into additional allegations prosecutors issued Monday, against Ghosn and Kelly, of underreporting another 4 billion yen ($36 million) in from 2016 to 2018.

The arrest of the man credited with saving Nissan when it was on the verge of bankruptcy two decades ago has stunned many and has raised concerns over the Japanese automaker and the future of its alliance with Renault of France.

No trial date has been set, as is routine in Japan. Prosecutors can add more allegations to extend detention, and it remains unclear when Ghosn and Kelly might be released.