On Christmas Eve, CarlosGhosn walked into his lawyers' modest office in centralTokyo to speak to his wife, Carole, for only the second time sinceApril. During his long odyssey through the Japanese legalsystem—several arrests; more than 100 days in solitary confinement;seemingly endless interrogations; and, after his release on bail,intrusive 24-hour surveillance—Ghosn had been forced to accept manyhumiliations. But few demoralized the ousted leaderof Nissan Motor Co. and RenaultSA as much as having to seek court permission even to callhis spouse, who prosecutors viewed as a potential co-conspirator insome of the wide range of financial crimes with which he's beencharged.

Carole, who'd departed Japan in a hurry after her husband wastaken into custody on a fourth charge in early April, has spentmuch of the last year lobbying tirelessly on his behalf—a campaignthat was taking an obvious toll.