TOKYO: Nissan Motor Co.  plans to file damages lawsuits in Japan and abroad against former Chairman Carlos Ghosn as early as this week over his alleged financial misconduct, informed sources said Monday.

Ghosn has been indicted in Japan for hiding his executive pay and misappropriating Nissan funds, but he denies the charges. The Japanese automaker claims that its internal investigation has found his financial misconduct.

Nissan's board is expected to meet on Thursday and approve plans to sue Ghosn for damages, the sources said.

The company's investigation has found that the misconduct by Ghosn and former Nissan director Greg Kelly caused more than 35 billion yen in damages.

Ghosn fled Japan to Lebanon late last year while out on bail awaiting trial. Nissan has no plans to sue Kelly this time to watch his trial. At a press conference in Beirut on Jan. 8, Ghosn said that the charges against him are untrue and baseless.

JIJI Press