Former Nissan president rebukes Ghosn's comments

The former president and CEO of Nissan Motors, who succeeded Carlos Ghosn after his 2018 arrest, said he feels "betrayed" after hearing Ghosn's criticism of Japan's legal system.

Hiroto Saikawa spoke to reporters in Tokyo on Thursday after the former Nissan chairman's news conference overnight in Beirut where he fled.

Ghosn escaped Japan where he was waiting for a trial on financial misconduct allegations.

In a news conference in Beirut on Wednesday, Ghosn had said the whole case was cooked up between Nissan, the Japanese government and prosecutors to prevent closer relations between the Japanese automotive giant and French partner Renault.

Ghosn accused Nissan executives of plotting to bring him down, including Saikawa.

Saikawa denied the allegation.

Jacques Deguest, a legal expert living in Japan, said the whole case will be "an uphill battle" for Nissan.

Deguest said the Japanese automaker will need a strong turnaround and has already "spent so much money on the investigation, and they're going to face litigation in the U.S."

Saikawa resigned last September after acknowledging that he had received dubious income.