TOKYO: American father and son sentenced in Japan for helping Nissan Former President Carlos Ghosn on the run in Lebanon, hidden in a box, has been returned to the United States, his lawyer announced on Tuesday.
Michael Taylor, a former Green Beret, was sentenced last July by the Tokyo District Court to two years in prison, while his son Peter Taylor was sentenced to one year and eight months.
They were found guilty of aiding a criminal for their involvement in the December 2019 escape of Ghosn, who was awaiting trial on various financial misconduct charges, including underreporting his compensation.
The Taylors were arrested in Massachusetts in May 2020 and extradited to Japan in March 2021, although they fought against deportation to Japan.
The United States and Japan have an extradition treaty, while Lebanon does not have an extradition treaty with Japan. Ghosn is Franco-Brazilian from Lebanese ancestry.
The US Federal Bureau of Prisons online site lists Michael Taylor as being at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles and is scheduled for release on January 1, 2023.
Paul V. Kelly, the Taylors’ attorney, said by email that he was in talks with parole officers about an earlier release. Peter Taylor has already been released and is back with his family in Massachusetts, said Kelly, whose office is based in Boston.
Japan’s Justice Ministry declined to comment. Nissan had no comment.
During their trial in Tokyo, Michael and Peter Taylor apologized and admitted guilt, saying they had been misled by Ghosn. They denied benefiting financially because the payment only covered expenses.
Ghosn, who led Nissan Motor Co. for two decades, says he is innocent. He says he fled because he could not expect a fair trial in Japan.
Michael Taylor, a former Green Beret, was sentenced last July by the Tokyo District Court to two years in prison, while his son Peter Taylor was sentenced to one year and eight months.
They were found guilty of aiding a criminal for their involvement in the December 2019 escape of Ghosn, who was awaiting trial on various financial misconduct charges, including underreporting his compensation.
The Taylors were arrested in Massachusetts in May 2020 and extradited to Japan in March 2021, although they fought against deportation to Japan.
The United States and Japan have an extradition treaty, while Lebanon does not have an extradition treaty with Japan. Ghosn is Franco-Brazilian from Lebanese ancestry.
The US Federal Bureau of Prisons online site lists Michael Taylor as being at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles and is scheduled for release on January 1, 2023.
Paul V. Kelly, the Taylors’ attorney, said by email that he was in talks with parole officers about an earlier release. Peter Taylor has already been released and is back with his family in Massachusetts, said Kelly, whose office is based in Boston.
Japan’s Justice Ministry declined to comment. Nissan had no comment.
During their trial in Tokyo, Michael and Peter Taylor apologized and admitted guilt, saying they had been misled by Ghosn. They denied benefiting financially because the payment only covered expenses.
Ghosn, who led Nissan Motor Co. for two decades, says he is innocent. He says he fled because he could not expect a fair trial in Japan.
