NHK has learned that former Nissan Motor Chairman Carlos Ghosn has denied underreporting his earnings in the company's securities reports. Sources say Ghosn told prosecutors in Tokyo that he had no intention of falsifying the financial statements.

The sources say the 64-year-old is speaking to prosecutors during questioning. It is the first time the auto tycoon's comments on the allegations against him have been reported.

Ghosn and his aide Greg Kelly were arrested last week on suspicion of underreporting Ghosn's income by tens of millions of dollars over a period of 8 years. Ghosn is suspected of instructing Kelly to report that his annual compensation stood at about one billion yen, or about 9 million dollars.

Sources earlier told NHK that Kelly claims he properly handled compensation for Ghosn. They say Kelly has told people around him that he consulted other executive officers and outside accountants.

Nissan's board of directors removed Ghosn as chairman and Kelly as representative director on Thursday.