Two Americans charged with helping Ghosn escape by Tokyo prosecutors

Michael Taylor and his son Peter, both American citizens, could face jail terms of up to three years after Tokyo prosecutors charged them on Monday for illegally helping former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn escape Japan to Lebanon in December 2019.

Extradited by U.S. officials this month, the U.S. Army Special Forces veteran and his son have been arrested in the same prison in Tokyo where Ghosn was held.

In a statement, the Tokyo prosecutors’ office said the men intentionally helped Ghosn evade punishment and escape to Lebanon by hiding him in a box aboard a private jet that departed from western Japan’s Kansai airport in December 2019.

Michael Taylor, a 60-year-old private security specialist, and his 28-year-old son earned $1.3 million for their services, according to the prosecutors.

The prosecutors did not say when they expect the trial to begin.

Japan’s conviction rate is 99%.

Ghosn remains a fugitive in his childhood home, Lebanon.

Lebanon has no extradition treaty with Japan.

Japanese law does not enable suspects to have their lawyers present during questioning by prosecutors. Once charged, defendants are often rejected bail by courts before trial.

Lawyers for the Taylors had waged a months-long legal battle to keep them from being sent to Japan, arguing they could not be prosecuted for helping someone to jump bail. They also questioned Japan’s treatment of suspects.

The U.S. State Department considered the torture claim as unlikely, and the U.S. Supreme Court last month cleared the way for their extradition.