2 Americans who helped Ghosn flee Japan sent back to U.S.

Worth every penny

Padraig BohannanToday 10:00 am JST

Whatever the circumstances you should be innocent until proven guilty. It should be the job of the accuser to prove the crime, not the other way around.

Innocent? In Japan by jumping bail Ghosn has committed a clear crime and can never return without going to jail.

Ghosn had paid USD 14 million on two separate instances to get out of detention. This huge amount of bail money is forfeited. USD 14 million and Ghosn gone was not a bad business for Japan if you ask me.

Ghosn paid also USD 1 million out of his wallet to US regulators to get away from being indicted in the States.

It's not only about Japan, he still has legal problems in France and in the Netherlands.

Prosecutors in France issued an international arrest warrant for Ghosn who is accused to misappropriate millions of euros from Renault.

So far French tax authorities have seized Euro 13 million of property and other assets from Carlos Ghosn.

If two Japanese helped a criminal escaped USA illegally

What was Ghosn convicted of?

PaulToday 02:08 pm JST

... jumping bail is not a crime in Japan.

In general this is correct, but only as long as the fugitive person remains in Japan.

However his bail conditions made it clear that Ghosn was not allowed to leave the country while awaiting trial and had to surrender all his passports. Nevertheless he left Japan illegally. As a result his bail of USD 14 million is now forfeited and he is considered as an international fugitive.

They made more money being in jail for two years than 310,000,000 Americans have in their lifetime.

Sure, they mean it wholeheartedly. Like all other confessions in Japan's "justice" system

Then why did the US government send them back? If Japan's system is as bad as North Korea's it's safe to assume the US government would do everything in their power to keep them safe. And being in the USA they are free to say anything but still say "misled". Maybe they can go back on that and write a book on their torture in Japan.

They had friends in high places having been involved in "privatized" international hostage rescue for some time. Apparently Ghosn covered $500K in legal fees and they also made a million on top of that. But you have to wonder if it was worth it to them since they were probably rich anyway. The result shows that the US did not condone their choice and didn't appreciate not being asked.

Ghosn is as guilty as hell as well as being made a fall guy and treated unfairly - those aren't incompatible truths.

Ghosn is not the only Gaijin millionaire to have existed in Japan. There are many others (including ones involved with M&A with Japanese companies) and they have never had any legal problems. Look at FOXCONN/SHARP as an important example. He is wanted not only in Japan but would be picked up if he were in the USA, the EU, and many other countries. The plane crew is doing time in Turkey and these two are doing time in the USA now.

 if the Police let him go?

Does this mean the police are on Ghosn's payroll?

Ghosn was railroaded

Or are the police on the Nissan payroll?

Look at the lack of consistency above then criticizing the Japanese criminal system regarding Ghosn. When you look at Nissan as the bad people it's not even consistent (what side is the police on?). But when you look at Ghosn as the criminal you can't be more consistent than the idea that Ghosn is a criminal and wanted man around the world (except where he is now)

Whatever the circumstances you should be innocent until proven guilty. It should be the job of the accuser to prove the crime, not the other way around.

Jail is for dangerous people to society. It shouldn't be used as a form of punishment. House arrest (They can eat on their own dime...not mine!) and bail. (people hate to lose money)

Ghosn may have been dodgy. I don't know. But I know this!....it would have been impossible for him to have done what he is accused of doing because he spoke little to no Japanese. He must have had inside help.

Where are those people?

...and don't get me started on Saikawa!! Grrr....

The article starts off saying they were released to the US as part of a prisoner swap treaty.

No mention of whom they were swapped for.

Hmmm....?

Michael Machida Today 08:17 am JST

It's so funny how Ghosn was able to get out of Japan so easily ...

Police were not watching him while he was out on bail? ....

As far as I remember this case, only cameras were installed to monitor when he is leaving and coming back to his home in Tokyo. He also as requested, paid USD 14 million as bail money - a huge amount - and his lawyer was obliged to keep all his passports to prevent him to leave Japan.

Japanese authorities trusted him as it is not easy to leave Japan legally under such circumstances.

Ghosn was however lying, he had one more than those passports he gave to his lawyer and with this Lebanese passport he was able to enter Lebanon as an Lebanese citizen.

It was not such an easy escape, very risky and scary, USD 14 million forfeited and he had to pay additional much money for all people who arranged his escape and now he is in Lebanon but nowhere to go.

Was it really worth it is the question.

They got paid well for the job. Probably worth it. Crime pays.

The Taylors were arrested in Massachusetts in May 2020 by U.S. authorities upon Japanese prosecutors' request and had fought extradition in U.S. courts.

US is really comform with Japan request, it even quicken the process, take less than one year to arrest those Taylor.

It was Japan that sent them back.

I mean initially the USA sent them back to Japan. I read some posts and some claim the criminal system in Japan is as bad as North Korea's. If Ghosn escaped North Korea for the same crime, would anyone expect the US to allow the Taylors to be extradited back to NK?

Funny world

It's the American dream. Japan has such light punishments for major crimes. Ghosn would be out of prison by now enjoying his zillions. But then France wants to arrest Ghosn next. How many years would he get in France? Is Ghosn wanted in any other country? Taylors it was only Japan basically.

It seems most of you here seem to think that Japanese law is same as in US, it isn't. First it is a hostage system where suspect has very limited or no access to a lawyer for many days or weeks and prosecutors can just about do anything including adding charges to extend their daily interrogations. Second defense has very limited powers. Third and the most important, jumping bail is not a crime in Japan.

@Yohan

You failed to mention how he did all this without speaking Japanese?

Sure he may be guilty. The Taylors are guilty of what they are accused of. They already confessed. Ghosn never confessed and they hated that. Kept him away from his family. He hadn't been found guilty of anything. How would you like that?

Soldiers of fortune!

Can't believe some people still think that Ghosn is innocent. If he really wanted to prove his innocence he would face the charges that are against him in Japan and in France. He would man up like Greg Kelly. But, as Ghosn's actions show by running away to Lebanon, he has done a lot of questionable things with Nissan's and Renault's money.

The Taylors and the flight crew got what they deserved.

Watched the docu on Netflix about Ghosn, 3.5 out of 5, but shed more light on Ghosn's case.

No mention of whom they were swapped for.

Money?

The Japanese prosecutors have criminal charges in Lebanon and Brazil for breaking in a private property and stealing documents and electronic devices.

Quite right to charge the prosecutor. They have no jurisdiction on other countries.

These two were well paid for getting Ghosn out of Japan and there short term imprisonment was more of an attempt for Japan to save face than to rehabilitate them, which is 'supposed to be' what jail time is for. The real crime is how Ghosn was railroaded and treated by the Japanese injustice system.

Getting a large box with a person inside through customs doesn't say much for Japanese airport security, does it?

Should have made them rot in prison.

What was Ghosn convicted of?

Fraud and numerous corporate crimes. He had more serious charges to defend when he chose not to stick around and take his chances with the law. Seems he knew something everyone else should know.

It's not 100% his fault. The Japanese bosses and their government parachuted him in to eviscerate the salary and conditions of Nissan workers while shrugging their shoulders saying basically, "it's not us. It's the wicked foreigner." It was a test case which passed to the severe detriment of Japanese society.

But Ghosn himself wasn't content with his multi-million Yen salary and bonuses and that's how he messed up.

He's also wanted in France and paid a multi-million US$ settlement to have charges dropped in USA.

WiseOneIn Kansai -Can't believe some people still think that Ghosn is innocent

this statement is totally irrelevant. He was held in solitary confinement and grilled daily by prosecution lawyers without his lawyer present and without being charged for nearly 18 months. He was deprived of any contact with his family or newspapers. This is a humanitarian crime. I thought Japan was supposed to be a democracy. The Taylor’s did him a huge favor by getting him out of Japan. Ghosn would have been incarcerated indefinitely until he confessed. Ghosn has stated he would appear in the international court to defend the charges. He would never have got a fair trial in Japan. The Taylors did a great job getting him out. They also showed the world that Japanese airport security is a joke.

During their trial in Tokyo, Michael and Peter Taylor apologized and acknowledged guilt, saying they had been misled by Ghosn

(news quote)

The point misled like other Ghosn fans. Ghosn is a loser and he is good at brainwashing people. Ghosn probably had the Taylors convinced they torture people here with chainsaws. Lots of make-believe stories going on about the Japanese criminal system but there is no proof about it. Got to admit though. Japan is probably the best country to commit a major crime and you really don't. The Taylors got off pretty easy compared to other countries. The Taylors no longer think that Ghosn is a great man. They should know since they went to prison over this whole circus.

Then why did the US government send them back?

It was Japan that sent them back.

I assume so in February, they'll hunt down Ghosn and get even.

"...and now he is in Lebanon with nowhere to go. Was it really worth it is the question."

Excellent posting by JT poster Yohan! And as far as I can remember about this case, Mr Ghosn [at the time] had plans to build a 37-metre yacht - 'Shachou' ['President' in the Japanese language] at an Italian shipyard, and then to sail the Mediterranean Sea..."The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry." This saying is adapted from a line in “To a Mouse,” by Robert Burns: “The best laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft a-gley.”

@Lindsay

Your comment is full of holes.

Solitary confinement? ... deprived of contact with his family? The courts trusted Ghosn and allowed him to live in an apartment where his wife and children came to visit him. He was even able to walk to a hotel 1km away to plan his escape.

The Humanitarian Crime is that Ghosn is living like a fat cat while 80% of Lebanon's population is classified as poor.

They should have done all the time in Japan. It would build character, which is clearly lacking. Whether their sentence was too light or not, was a matter for Japanese courts. Being shipped to the USA, then released before their time was up - that offends me as an American. Either we follow rule of law and respect our partner countries judgements or we don't. Their release before all the time was served is not good.

BTW, jails/prisons in the US are not about rehabilitation or even punishment. They are about locking away criminals, so they aren't in public anymore.

@nishikat

During their trial in Tokyo, Michael and Peter Taylor apologized and acknowledged guilt, saying they had been misled by Ghosn

Sure, they mean it wholeheartedly. Like all other confessions in Japan's "justice" system.

They deserved more time in prison, criminals helping other criminals escape..

The Japanese prosecutors have criminal charges in Lebanon and Brazil for breaking in a private property and stealing documents and electronic devices.

Plus, the breach of human rights have been confirmed by the UN.

Nissan has also lost some trials connected to this incident already.

The Humanitarian Crime is that Ghosn is living like a fat cat while 80% of Lebanon's population is classified as poor.

The Humanitarian Crime is that Ghosn still does not appear to have been compensated for his unlawful detention (has Japan paid up yet). Poor little Japan, could not scam him with their hostage (so-called) justice system. God Bless the Taylors. Shame on the US for sending them back to Japan.

I think we all know that he was railroaded and the people in his company are probably more corrupt than he ever was.

Let’s see if this trial ever makes it to The Hague, I’m sure Ghosn would love to go to trial and expose what the Japanese government and other employees did to him.

Naturally, that is never going to happen, Japan would never agree to it, so we’re never really going to know exactly what happened.

Should stayed locked up here for 5 years. Instead of smuggling a suspected criminal, it could of been drugs, radioactive materials, biological weapons, anything. This was a serious crime.

It's so funny how Ghosn was able to get out of Japan so easily however one has to wonder if the Police let him go? I mean, Japan was looking pretty bad as time went on. Letting Ghosn go would at least make this go away a bit. So, the Police were not watching him while he was out on bail? One has to wonder. Doesn't one?

If two Japanese helped a criminal escaped USA illegally, especially a high level case, Fire and Furry!

Not this light pass, get out of jail after 1 to 2 years!

Some still not satisfied with the huge pass given. Not fast enough apparently. lol

Maybe they'll open a chain called Sushi Keimusho and hang guitar cases all over the walls

These two were well paid for getting Ghosn out of Japan and there short term imprisonment was more of an attempt for Japan to save face than to rehabilitate them, which is 'supposed to be' what jail time is for. The real crime is how Ghosn was railroaded and treated by the Japanese injustice system.

THIS!!