TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese court denied prosecutors' request Thursday to extend the detention of former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn.

The Tokyo District Court said it rejected the request for another 10-day detention for Ghosn over an additional allegation dealing with financial reports in most recent years.

The denial is extremely rare in a country where requests from investigative authorities for extended detention are almost automatically approved. If a bail request by his lawyer is accepted by the court, Ghosn may be released as early as Thursday.

Prosecutors are expected to appeal the bail request and could take further legal steps to allow them to investigate Ghosn and co-accused Greg Kelly longer.

Ghosn was arrested Nov. 19, along with Kelly, another executive, over allegations that they underreported Ghosn's pay by about 5 billion yen ($44 million) in 2011-2015. Both have since been charged.

Tokyo prosecutors last week added a second allegation that they also underreported another 4 billion yen ($36 billion) in Ghosn's pay for 2016-2018, for which their first 10-day detention was to expire later Thursday.

The arrest of an industry icon has triggered international attention and criticism over his nearly a monthlong custody at Tokyo Detention House.

The scandal also raised concerns over the Japanese automaker and the future of its alliance with Renault SA of France.