Father and Son Sentenced for Aiding Escape of Carlos Ghosn
Back in December of 2019, Carlos Ghosn, the former chairman of automotive manufacturer Nissan, was detained at home due to suspicions of underreporting income and misusing company funds for personal purposes. After being in confinement for about a year, Ghosn mysteriously disappeared from Japan and resurfaced in Lebanon, a country without an extradition treaty with Japan. While Ghosn remained out of Japan’s reach, the individuals who assisted in his escape faced legal consequences.
Michael Taylor and his son Peter were arrested in Massachusetts in May of last year and were later extradited to Japan for trial. Although Ghosn orchestrated the escape and potentially misled the Taylors with false information, they were found guilty of aiding him, leading to their sentencing. Michael Taylor received a two-year prison term in Japan, while his son was sentenced to one year and eight months.
The defense attorney for the Taylors argued for suspended sentences, citing the time spent in U.S. detention awaiting extradition. However, the Chief Judge emphasized that time in holding should not be equated with time served and should be considered a distinct issue. The location of the third member of Ghosn’s escape team, George-Antoine Zayek, remains unknown.
