OUSTED Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn yesterday promised to “tell the truth” at a news conference next week, taking to Twitter to announce his first briefing since being released on bail and hours after a report that prosecutors were preparing a fresh case against him.

Ghosn, widely lauded for rescuing Nissan Motor Co. from the brink of bankruptcy two decades ago, has experienced a dramatic fall from grace that shook the global auto industry and raised questions about the future of Nissan’s alliance with France’sRenault SA.

Released on US$9 million bail last month, Ghosn has denied the charges, calling them “meritless” and saying he was the victim of a boardroom coup.

“I’m getting ready to tell the truth about what’s happening. Press conference April 11,” Ghosn tweeted from the @carlosghosn account on Twitter.

The account was created this month. It was the sole tweet, posted in Japanese and English.

Under the terms of Ghosn’s bail, he is not allowed to use the Internet, although the tweet may have been made on his behalf, as is common with celebrities and other high-profile figures.

Earlier, Japan’s Yomiuri newspaper reported that Tokyo prosecutors are preparing to build a fresh case against him over suspect payments the automaker made to a business partner in Oman.

Prosecutors are in discussions with the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office and others and plan to make a decision soon on whether to prosecute Ghosn on further charges of aggravated breach of trust, the newspaper said, citing sources involved in the case.

Ghosn’s spokesman has previously said payments of US$32 million made over nine years were rewards for the Oman firm being a top Nissan dealer. Such dealer incentives weren’t directed by Ghosn and the funds were not used to pay any personal debt, the spokesman said. (SD-Agencies)