FILE - In this Jan. 8, 2019, file photo, Motonari Ohtsuru, defense lawyer of former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn, speaks during a press conference in ...
FILE - In this Jan. 8, 2019, file photo, Motonari Ohtsuru, defense lawyer of former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn, speaks during a press conference in Tokyo. Ohtsuru, the chief lawyer of former Nissan Chairman Ghosn, has handed in his resignation, according to his office and a statement submitted to the court.(AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File)
FILE - In this Jan. 8, 2019, file photo, Motonari Ohtsuru, left, chief lawyer of the legal team for former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn, other members...
FILE - In this Jan. 8, 2019, file photo, Motonari Ohtsuru, left, chief lawyer of the legal team for former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn, other members of the legal team, lawyers Go Kondo, center, and Masato Oshikubo sit in a courtroom ahead of a court hearing on a case of Ghosn at the Tokyo District Court in Tokyo.
Ohtsuru and Oshikubo have handed in resignations, according to his office and a statement submitted to the court. The resignation Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019, is the latest twist in the legal battle of Ghosn, who has been detained in Tokyo since his arrest in November. He has been charged with falsifying financial reports in under-reporting compensation and breach of trust in having Nissan Motor Co. shoulder investment losses and paying a Saudi businessman.(Kiyoshi Ota/Pool Photo via AP, File)
TOKYO (AP) — Motonari Ohtsuru, the lawyer heading the defense for Nissan Motor Co.'s former chairman Carlos Ghosn, has resigned.
Ohtsuru's office and a statement submitted to the court confirmed that Ohtsuru had quit on Wednesday. It was the latest twist in Ghosn's legal battle after he was arrested in November. He has been charged with falsifying financial reports by under-reporting his compensation and with breach of trust.
Ghosn has repeatedly said he is innocent.
It was unclear why Ohtsuru was no longer representing Ghosn or if Ghosn had dismissed him. Another attorney chosen to represent the auto industry star executive also resigned as of Wednesday.
Japan's Kyodo News service said the Tokyo District Court, prosecutors and lawyers for Ghosn were due to meet Thursday to work on preparing for his trial.
