TOKYO, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Tokyo District Court on Wednesday rejected a request filed by former Nissan Motor Co. Chairman Carlos Ghosn's defense counsel to end his detention following his arrest in November on allegations of financial misconduct.
The court's decision came a day after Ghosn appeared in public for the first time since his arrest at the court where he robustly maintained his innocence regarding all allegations of financial improprieties facing him.
Following the hearing held Tuesday, during which the global automotive heavyweight was allocated 10-minutes to appeal his innocence to the court and hear the reasons for his lengthy detention -- further extended following fresh suspicions he committed aggravated breach of trust, Ghosn's lawyers filed a request with the court to end his detention.
Presiding Judge Yuichi Tada said during Ghosn's hearing that his ongoing detention was due to concerns he might try to destroy key evidence and that he was also a flight risk.
The 64-year-old's legal team said Wednesday they will seek to file quasi-appeal against the Tokyo District Court's decision not to release Ghosn.
