US arrests 2 men accused of aiding ex-Nissan boss’ escape

Washington, May 20

US authorities on Wednesday arrested a former Green Beret and his son who’re accused of serving to former Nissan Motor Co. Chairman Carlos Ghosn flee Japan whereas he awaited trial on monetary misconduct fees.

Justice Department spokeswoman Nicole Navas mentioned Michael Taylor, 59, and Peter Taylor, 27, have been arrested by the US Marshals Service in Harvard, Massachusetts.

The two Americans are wished by Japan officers on fees that they helped Ghosn escape the nation in December after the previous Nissan boss was launched on bail.

Ghosn mentioned he fled as a result of he couldn’t anticipate a good trial, was subjected to unfair circumstances in detention and was barred from assembly his spouse below his bail circumstances.

Ghosn has mentioned he’s harmless of allegations he under-reported his future revenue and dedicated a breach of belief by diverting Nissan cash for his private acquire.

He says the compensation was by no means selected or obtained, and that the Nissan funds have been for official enterprise functions.

Michael Taylor flew into Japan on a personal jet from the United Arab Emirates with one other man, George-Antoine Zayek, they usually introduced two massive black containers with them and claimed to be musicians carrying audio tools, in keeping with courtroom papers.

They helped Ghosn escape to the airport by hiding him in one of many containers, the paperwork say. Japanese officers had additionally issued a provisional warrant for Zayek’s arrest.

The males arrived at Japan’s Kansai International Airport with baggage that included the 2 massive containers, and Ghosn was inside certainly one of them, courtroom papers mentioned. The baggage handed by a safety checkpoint with out being checked and was loaded onto a personal jet headed for Turkey, the paperwork say.

Two days later, Ghosn introduced publicly he was in Lebanon.

Peter Taylor had travelled to Japan a minimum of thrice since July 2019 and met with Ghosn a minimum of seven instances throughout these visits, in keeping with courtroom information.

The Taylors have been anticipated to seem earlier than a decide by way of videoconference later Wednesday. There have been no legal professionals listed for them in courtroom paperwork. — AP