Former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn has appeared in court for the first time since his shock arrest in Japan in November last year.

Axar.az reports citing BBC.

He is accused of financial misconduct, including under-reporting his pay.

Mr. Ghosn, who was led into court in handcuffs with a rope around his waist, said in a prepared statement that he had been "wrongly accused and unfairly detained".

Mr. Ghosn, a towering figure of the car industry, also looked visibly thinner.

He told the Tokyo District Court: "I have been wrongly accused and unfairly detained, based on meritless and unsubstantiated accusations."

The 64-year-old said he never received any compensation from Nissan that was not disclosed.

Mr. Ghosn said he had "never been accused of any wrongdoing," and had dedicated two decades to "reviving Nissan".

His initial arrest nearly two months ago shocked the industry and his lengthy detention has drawn some criticism.

But a judge said Mr. Ghosn's detention was justified to prevent possible evidence-tampering and the risk that he might flee, according to reports.