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US father and son admit helping former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn escape Japan
- The men face up to three years in prison if convicted of helping Ghosn, who is currently an international fugitive living in Lebanon
- Ghosn was out on bail, awaiting trial on four counts of financial misconduct, when he managed to slip past authorities onto a private jet
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An American father-son duo accused of orchestrating former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn’s audacious escape from Japan admitted their role on Monday as they made their first appearance before a Tokyo court.
Former special forces operative Michael Taylor, 60, and his 28-year-old son Peter were extradited by US authorities over claims they smuggled Ghosn out of the country in a music equipment case as he awaited trial.
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At the Tokyo District Court on Monday, the pair said they did not contest the facts laid out by prosecutors in an indictment, effectively conceding their role in the saga.
The pair face up to three years in prison if convicted of helping Ghosn, who is currently an international fugitive living in Lebanon, which has no extradition treaty with Japan.
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Ghosn was out on bail while awaiting trial on four counts of financial misconduct, which he denies, when he managed to slip past authorities onto a private jet, transit in Turkey and land in Lebanon.
The escape was hugely embarrassing for Japanese authorities, who termed it “one of the most brazen and well-orchestrated escape acts in recent history”.
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