Ghosn’s alleged accomplices can be extradited, says US judge

US prosecutors say the accused facilitated ‘one of the most brazen and well-orchestrated escape acts in recent history’

The former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn fled Japan for Lebanon. AP

A US judge on Friday ruled that two Massachusetts men can be legally extradited to Japan to face charges they helped former Nissan Motor Co Chairman Carlos Ghosn flee the country in a box and on a private jet.

US Magistrate Judge Donald Cabell in Boston rejected the arguments against extradition by US Army Special Forces veteran Michael Taylor and his son, Peter Taylor, and certified the case for the US secretary of state to evaluate.

The Taylors' lawyers had argued they could not be extradited because Japanese penal code does not make it a crime to help someone "bail jump," and that they could only be charged if Japanese authorities were already pursuing Mr Ghosn pre-escape.

But Mr Cabell rejected that argument, saying their conduct "literally brings them squarely within the purview" of the law, which makes it a crime to harbour or enabling the escape of someone like Mr Ghosn who has committed a crime.

Lawyers for the Taylors did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

US prosecutors say the Taylors facilitated "one of the most brazen and well-orchestrated escape acts in recent history," allowing Mr Ghosn to flee to Lebanon, his childhood home, which has no extradition treaty with Japan.

Mr Ghosn fled on December 29, 2019, while awaiting trial on charges that he engaged in financial wrongdoing, including by understating his compensation in Nissan's financial statements. Mr Ghosn denies wrongdoing.

Prosecutors said both the elder Taylor, a private security specialist, and his son received more than $1.3 million (Dh4.7 million) from Mr Ghosn and his family members for their services.

Both the elder Taylor, a private security specialist, and his son were arrested in May at Japan's request and have been held without bail since then.