NISSAN'S former chairman Carlos Ghosn has blamed his arrest on a plot by other executives who opposed his plan for closer ties with the firm's French alliance partner Renault, according to a Japanese business paper.
Nikkei said it spoke with Mr Ghosn for 20 minutes at the Tokyo Detention Centre, where he has been held since November 19.
It was his first interview with media since he was detained in November. Earlier he was only allowed visits by his lawyers and embassy officials.
Prosecutors have charged Mr Ghosn with falsifying financial reports in under-reporting his compensation. He has also been indicted for breach of trust related to his handling of investment losses and to payments made to a Saudi businessman.
In the interview, Mr Ghosn reiterated his insistence that he is innocent and said others in the company schemed to force him out with a "plot and treason".
Renault owns 43 per cent of Nissan. It sent Mr Ghosn to Japan in 1999 to help lead the Japanese firm's turnaround from near bankruptcy.
Mr Ghosn said he had discussed a "plan to integrate" Nissan with Renault and their smaller alliance partner Mitsubishi, with Nissan chief executive Hiroto Saikawa, in September, the report said.
The plan was to more closely integrate Nissan, Renault and Mitsubishi Motors and ensure they had "autonomy under one holding company", he told the newspaper.
The newspaper said Mr Ghosn (64) did not appear tired or flustered. When asked about his health he said he was "doing fine".
"In life there are ups and downs," the newspaper quoted him as saying.
