Former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn said on Wednesday he had been treated brutally and ruthlessly by Japanese prosecutors, who threatened to take action against his family if he didn’t confess to their accusations.

The one-time auto industry star fled Japan last month where he was awaiting trial on charges of under-reporting earnings, breach of trust and misappropriation of company funds, all of which he denies.

Tokyo prosecutors on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant for his wife, Carol Ghosn, for alleged perjury.

Japan’s Ministry of Justice has said it will try to find a way to bring Ghosn back from Lebanon, where he held his first press conference on Wednesday since his initial arrest in November 2018, even though it has no extradition treaty with Japan.

Turkish and Japanese authorities are investigating how Ghosn was smuggled out to Beirut. Interpol has issued a “red notice” seeking his arrest.

Ghosn’s news conference marks the latest twist in a 14-month saga that has shaken the global car industry, jeopardized the alliance of Nissan and top shareholder Renault and increased scrutiny of Japan’s judicial system.

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The recent removal and arrest of Carlos Ghosn, chairman of car maker Nissan is another corporate scandal to tarnish Japan Inc. in recent years, and once again raises fundamental questions about governance in the country. While some of the issues are deep-rooted and would require a serious change of mindset, senior in-house counsel can play their part in improving the culture going forward.