Two Americans who are charged with the escaping of former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn form house arrest have been sentenced to two years of imprisonment by a Tokyo court on Monday.
The American duo - US Army Special Forces veteran Michael Taylor who was sentenced for two years and his son Peter for one year eight months for being instrumental in affecting the escape of Ghosn in 2019 from Japan to Lebanon.
"This case enabled Ghosn, a defendant of serious crime, to escape overseas," Hideo Nirei, the chief judge, said while explaining the judgement. "One year and a half has passed, but there is no prospect of the trial being held."
Not a word was spoken by the two American citizens during the 20-minute appearance at the Tokyo District Court.
The elder Taylor had escorted Ghosn onto the jet and had therefore played a "leading role" in the escape, Nirei said. The son had taken care of Ghosn’s luggage and had also handed over a hotel room key to the former auto boss to change clothes.
While pleading guilty, the two faced with up to three years of imprisonment, also tendered a tearful apology to the court last month. They regretted the role they played in helping Ghosn out of Japan by hiding him in a music instrument box and aboard a private jet from Japan’s Kansai airport at the end of 2019.
Prosecutors said the Taylors received $1.3 million for expenses and as payment, with another $500,000 for legal fees.
The Turkish company MNG and two pilots were convicted by a Turkish court in February for their role in Ghosn's escape. The pilots were sentenced to four years and two months in jail.
The Taylors were arrested in the United States in May 2020. But they were sent handed over to Japan in March this year as their lawyers attempted to stop their extradition as they argued that the duo could be faced with relentless interrogation and torture and they should not be prosecuted for helping someone "bail jump".
Suspects in Japan are interrogated without their lawyers present and are often denied bail before trial.
Ghosn continues to stay in Lebanon which does not have any extradition treaty with Japan.
Ghosn was arrested in November 2018 in Tokyo over charges of understating his compensation in Nissan's financial statements by 9.3 billion yen ($85 million) for more than a decade as well as enriching himself at his employer's expense by paying to car dealerships in the Middle East with company money.
A former executive of Nissan, Greg Kelly, is currently in custody in Japan for allegedly helping Ghosn hide his compensation,. He is currently undergoing trial whose judgment is expected next year.
Both Ghosn and Kelly deny the charges.
(Source:www.moneycontrol.com)
The American duo - US Army Special Forces veteran Michael Taylor who was sentenced for two years and his son Peter for one year eight months for being instrumental in affecting the escape of Ghosn in 2019 from Japan to Lebanon.
"This case enabled Ghosn, a defendant of serious crime, to escape overseas," Hideo Nirei, the chief judge, said while explaining the judgement. "One year and a half has passed, but there is no prospect of the trial being held."
Not a word was spoken by the two American citizens during the 20-minute appearance at the Tokyo District Court.
The elder Taylor had escorted Ghosn onto the jet and had therefore played a "leading role" in the escape, Nirei said. The son had taken care of Ghosn’s luggage and had also handed over a hotel room key to the former auto boss to change clothes.
While pleading guilty, the two faced with up to three years of imprisonment, also tendered a tearful apology to the court last month. They regretted the role they played in helping Ghosn out of Japan by hiding him in a music instrument box and aboard a private jet from Japan’s Kansai airport at the end of 2019.
Prosecutors said the Taylors received $1.3 million for expenses and as payment, with another $500,000 for legal fees.
The Turkish company MNG and two pilots were convicted by a Turkish court in February for their role in Ghosn's escape. The pilots were sentenced to four years and two months in jail.
The Taylors were arrested in the United States in May 2020. But they were sent handed over to Japan in March this year as their lawyers attempted to stop their extradition as they argued that the duo could be faced with relentless interrogation and torture and they should not be prosecuted for helping someone "bail jump".
Suspects in Japan are interrogated without their lawyers present and are often denied bail before trial.
Ghosn continues to stay in Lebanon which does not have any extradition treaty with Japan.
Ghosn was arrested in November 2018 in Tokyo over charges of understating his compensation in Nissan's financial statements by 9.3 billion yen ($85 million) for more than a decade as well as enriching himself at his employer's expense by paying to car dealerships in the Middle East with company money.
A former executive of Nissan, Greg Kelly, is currently in custody in Japan for allegedly helping Ghosn hide his compensation,. He is currently undergoing trial whose judgment is expected next year.
Both Ghosn and Kelly deny the charges.
(Source:www.moneycontrol.com)
