Kawasoe denies Mitsubishi clutch defect

THE former head of scandal-plagued Japanese car giant Mitsubishi Motors yesterday pleaded not guilty to charges of professional negligence.

Katsuhiko Kawasoe was president four years ago when he acknowledged the manufacturer had for decades hidden car defects from authorities.

Prosecutors say Kawasoe and other executives knew of a clutch-design flaw for several years. The defect is suspected of causing a crash that killed a 39-year-old driver who hit a concrete embankment after his brakes failed.