Pair charged over Ghosn escape

Two Americans may face jail terms of up to three years after Tokyo prosecutors charged them with illegally helping former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn to flee Japan.

Michael Taylor and his son Peter were extradited by US authorities in March 2021 and are currently being detained at a prison in the Japanese capital.

The Tokyo prosecutors’ office accuses the pair of knowingly helping Ghosn escape to Lebanon by hiding him in carry-on luggage aboard a private jet in December 2019. A date has yet to be set for the trial.

Ghosn was under house arrest and awaiting trial on charges of financial wrongdoing at the time of his escape.

He remains a fugitive in his childhood home, Lebanon, which has no extradition treaty with Japan.

In a statement on March 22, the prosecutors claim Michael, 60, and Peter, 28, received US$1.3 million (NZ$1.9m) for their services.

Ghosn has been accused of understating his compensation in Nissan’s financial statements and enriching himself at his employer’s expense by making an unauthorised payment to a Nissan dealership.

He denies any wrongdoing.