Top-selling Japanese music producer Tetsuya Komuro was formally charged with fraud Friday in a scandal that has tarnished the image of a star whose songs once dominated Japan’s pop music scene.

Komuro was arrested Nov. 4 for allegedly defrauding an investor in 2006 out of $4.2 million. Komuro had offered to sell the investor the copyrights to his songs for $8.4 million, knowing he was not authorized to do so.

“I’m sorry to have caused the trouble,” Komuro told a huge crowd of reporters Friday upon his release on bail. “If I may, I want to keep up my work in music.”

Komuro had been held in the Osaka Detention Center in western Japan for more than two weeks. Osaka prosecutors were not available for comment.

Komuro’s record label, Avex Group Holdings, said it paid part of the $319,000 bail.

The scandal marks a stunning reversal for the 49-year-old producer who sold a reported 170 million compact discs in the 1990s, but who in recent years has failed to produce big hits.

According to media reports Komuro allegedly spent the money from the investor — who has not been identified — to pay off debts from failed businesses and alimony.

Avex said in a statement Friday that Komuro’s indictment is “extremely regrettable,” but expressed hope that he will make a fresh start.

“We sincerely hope that Mr. Komuro, who has made substantial contributions to our company, will restart his music career and demonstrate his outstanding talent as an artist and producer once again,” it said.

Komuro began his music career as a member of popular rock band TM Network in 1984 and produced scores of songs that sold in the millions, making J-Pop hugely popular across Asia.