Japan Today Get your ticket to GaijinPot Expo 2024
crime

Prosecutors seek nearly 3 years jail for Ghosn escape accomplices

54 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© 2021 AFP

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

54 Comments
Login to comment

In my over 30 years in Japan, I've brushed with the law a few times. Advice: roll over like a puppy, put up with the procedures, and all will be fine (in less you've done something really bad). But putting up an ounce of resilience is not advised.

19 ( +23 / -4 )

3 years of instant ramen is nothing, I'm sure as tough Rambo guy they had worse experience before

15 ( +17 / -2 )

If they had helped some unknown prisoner escape, a suspended sentence would be possible. But not in this case. One thing you should never do in Japan is cause the police or prosecutors to lose face. They grow fangs when you do that, and will keep after you until you are behind bars, whatever it takes.

11 ( +14 / -3 )

The judge will sentence half of what he's been told by the prosecutor.

My bet is that'll be 2 years of suspended sentence.

7 ( +18 / -11 )

BunkerBillyToday  04:39 pm JST

A Japanese prison is a walk in the park compared to Prisons in other Countries.

You should have let Carlos know this. We could have skipped this whole circus.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

If they were expecting leniency over their apology it was really naïve from them, if they expect an easy and fast trial they would be an even worse word than naïve.

I think that’s pretty lenient.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

For these two guys, piece of cake; upside down. I’m sure they’ve been in tougher situations in the military. I’m also sure Japanese prison will be like Disneyland for them.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

The escape was hugely embarrassing for Japanese authorities. US prosecutors called it "one of the most brazen and well-orchestrated escape acts in recent history".

"well-orchestrated" hehehehehehe

Considering Ghosn escaped in a case for instruments, it was "well-orchestrated" indeed!

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Prosecutors seek nearly 3 years jail for Ghosn escape accomplices

Taylors: "Three years! So all that stuff we said the other day about 'deeply regretting our actions' and the Japanese being the 'friendliest people we've ever bumped into' -- yea, we take that all back!"

4 ( +15 / -11 )

@Laguna

I hope you mean if you’ve done the crime then you should put your hand up. If so, I agree.

If it’s a case of mistaken identity or it’s something that really should be challenged then rolling over is doing an injustice to the justice system don’t you think?

We all have a right to a fair trial, although I think the odds are not stacked in the accused’s favour up there from what I hear.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

It’s a standard tactic for criminals on trial to look repentant in order to get a lighter sentence and that’s exactly what the Taylors are doing. The father and son will probably get out of this with a suspended sentence. Until then, enjoy Japanese hospitality. in the Tokyo detention center.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

@Chico3 Only the father was in the Green Berets! The son has never served in the U.S. military!

4 ( +5 / -1 )

3 years be easy for these guys one would think, I mean c'mon man they tough guys arnt they ......................................................Do it sitting on a pisspot easy !

4 ( +5 / -1 )

expat Today 09:38 pm JST

I'd pay good money to see them escape and flee the country...

Go on then fund it lets watch it happen .................or you just dreaming ?

4 ( +6 / -2 )

If they were expecting leniency over their apology it was really naïve from them, if they expect an easy and fast trial they would be an even worse word than naïve.

3 ( +12 / -9 )

Will their time in US detention count towards their final sentence?

3 ( +7 / -4 )

enolagay

Nope. Ghosn is rich enough and has enough connections to get these two a suspended sentence. Why do you think they pleaded guilty

I doubt he has enough connections in Japans big corporations and government. If he had, he would not be trapped like he was in the first place. So no, I believe these 2 will get the full sentence.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I'm betting on a suspended sentence. And instant deportation. And maybe a fine that Ghosn will reimburse them. This has been nothing but a farce.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Looks like I'm right. The Taylors would probably be looking at about 2 years, but there's no reason to "suspend" their punishment, because in the case of a foreigner, to suspend a punishment is the same as none at all. Plus, let's face it that last minute show of repentance isn't all that convincing.

1 ( +9 / -8 )

The Taylors would probably be looking at about 2 years, but there's no reason to "suspend" their punishment

You might be right, might give them 2 years prison.

Acknowledging the 400 days they got already at the States would be be nice.

1 ( +9 / -8 )

BunkerBillyToday  04:39 pm JST

A Japanese prison is a walk in the park compared to Prisons in other Countries.

Really? then how come JT community questions human rights abuse in Japan.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

Stick 1 mill in my bank , Ill do 3 years in a japanese prison for that so long as the 1 mill is been well invested while i was sitting waiting, go on any one up for a go fund me deal ?

Too Easy, 1 mill turing over , no out goings, no rent , no food, no cost just accuring and collecting at maximum return, 3 years is no thing !

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Japan is being tough on Ghosen because he is a foreigner. No Sawayaka Executive was charged after money disappeared and the company went bankrupt.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Pity the poor foreign hireling patsies who'll soon get a taste of Japanese justice in stark contrast to those 100 politicians and their ilk who won't now be charged (everybody does it!?) for their involvement in illegal payments, proving yet again that "justice" is indeed blind.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

That's a relief for the Japan tax payers

0 ( +8 / -8 )

Easy sentence for a Green Beret. All this is a political "Win" in the Japanese gov't eyes. What a joke of a sentence. All this will do is make the men stronger. A Japanese prison is a walk in the park compared to Prisons in other Countries.

0 ( +15 / -15 )

When you get sentenced to imprisonment in Japan it's either with or without 'work' (aka forced labour). The crime the Taylor's are charged with seems to require any imprisonment to include work. I'm not sure if the judge has discretion to waive this.

If not, they'll be forced to work most of the day in the prison factory where folding and gluing paper bags is one of the most common activities.

0 ( +8 / -8 )

Japan has to 'save face' More than likely they'll get the maximum.

0 ( +9 / -9 )

A max sentence & seize the money so that they cannot profit from it.

Or...

Reduced sentence if they bring him back

BringCarlosBack
0 ( +7 / -7 )

They should never release them until they pay a fine or by equal work at least two times the amount they received.

Stay in prison for as long as the law justifies so hopefully they will learn their lesson of not do it again.

Every person who is in favor of these criminals that have already confessed is actually encouraging disorder and disobey of our society rules. Their believes should be noted as they could potentially do sometjing illegal.

I would not hire them for example.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

""The escape was hugely embarrassing for Japanese authorities. US prosecutors called it "one of the most brazen and well-orchestrated escape acts in recent history""

"Embarrassing " is the key word,

i don't understand how could someone be prosecute for actions that are NOT ILLEGAL, jumping bail in Japan is NOT illegal, therefore when the Taylors answered the call they were aware of that fact and added it into their calculation, they wouldn't have done it if it was ILLEGAL.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

@MarkJuly 4 09:08 am JST

i don't understand how could someone be prosecute for actions that are NOT ILLEGAL, jumping bail in Japan is NOT illegal, therefore when the Taylors answered the call they were aware of that fact and added it into their calculation, they wouldn't have done it if it was ILLEGAL.

Because while jumping bail (by the accused) is not criminal, harboring a criminal (and please interpret this to include Suspects and Accused) is illegal. Whoever briefed the Taylors either was mentally defective or was deliberately deceptive.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

With a more healthy Justice system de lawyers could have challenged the case in court.

It's too dangerous to defend yourself in the J-justice.

Kelly did that, and he will likely get a jail sentence by autumn of next year.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@BunkerBilly

A Japanese prison is a walk in the park compared to Prisons in other Countries.

Definitely not. Sure Japanese prisons are well organized and not over populated. And it's not likely you ever get bullied in it. But in terms of privation of liberty and strict rules, Japan is one of the worst.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Still never going to get the big fish so the country better go ahead and enjoy the hollow victory.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Hope they get a suspended sentence or deported or both but no jail time for these heroes..

Long live Ghosn and down with the police and injustice system in corrupt Nihon!!

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

No idea what will be the sentence but it will most likely not include anti form of suspended sentence.

The reason I say this is that there are problems with suspended sentences for non Japanese or special PR. Once guilty of a crime one's Visa is automatically void, seeing these guys actually never had a visa to live here, there are really only 2 options if a suspended sentence is given, #1 immediately deport them, #2 give them permission to stay and work in Japan while they ride out their suspended, both options would never be acceptable to the government.

NOTE: suspended sentences are nearly always longer than the actual sentence. Ex: the judge sentences them to 3 years in jail, suspended for 5 years, or something similar.

So a suspended sentence would require they get a visa to remain longer in Japan and work, anyone think that is really going to happen?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Japan and U.S. tends to be buddy buddy when it comes to fugitives except when that fugitive is a Japanese woman running away with the kids from her American husband.

Actually Japan has rarely extradited a Japanese citizen to the USA regardless of male or female, this includes suspected murders.

The usual court decisions is "the evidence supplied by a non Japanese law enforcement cannot be considered 100% valid"

I am not joking at least 2 wanted for murder in the USA got off this way because the Japanese courts said the USA police evidence could not be used in a Japanese court not even for extradition proceedings.

Talk about one great big loophole and one way agreement.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

If really life was anything like the USA movies:

"Rambo 6 escape from the rising sun!"

But then I wouldn't actually be surprised to see a movie based on this whole Ghosn thing.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

"The case considerably infringed upon our country's criminal justice,"

The country's WHAT? hahahahahahahahaha what a joke!

Mark

""The escape was hugely embarrassing for Japanese authorities. US prosecutors called it "one of the most brazen and well-orchestrated escape acts in recent history""

"Embarrassing " is the key word,

i don't understand how could someone be prosecute for actions that are NOT ILLEGAL, jumping bail in Japan is NOT illegal, therefore when the Taylors answered the call they were aware of that fact and added it into their calculation, they wouldn't have done it if it was ILLEGAL.

You said it best! (and you saved me some time to type up what you said!)

They only made a big issue of "jumping bail" AFTER the fact that it was done! Then made it illegal to make it look more serious! Many Japanese people in prison now probably didn't even know they could've been granted bail!

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

It's the prosecutors' revenge for the 'Justice' system being shown up so badly, their inability to convict Ghosn successfully, and their embarrassment at being shown to be minions of the government and industry, acting together to stop Nissan being taken over.

Now let's see what happens, and what will happen to Kelly.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

They apologized. Let them go. Deport them.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

Shame on Japan, and shame on US courts that allowed this extradition.

Shame on these fools for not taking their millions and going to a country without an extradition treaty with Japan like they did with Ghosn. Japan and U.S. tends to be buddy buddy when it comes to fugitives except when that fugitive is a Japanese woman running away with the kids from her American husband.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

If found guilty, the American father-son duo,

Seriously are they about to release a single analog/digital 

Why are they here in the first place?

What can be realistically gained from what has to be considered a political showcase.

Its Jimmy the weed meets Johnny the fox.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Free the Taylors!!!

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Great work guys. True heroes.

Shame on Japan, and shame on US courts that allowed this extradition.

-7 ( +9 / -16 )

You play, you pay.

a man with such considerable skill could have found any number of high paying jobs in security but went for the big score. Now he has to pay the price for his greed.

-11 ( +13 / -24 )

Nope. Ghosn is rich enough and has enough connections to get these two a suspended sentence. Why do you think they pleaded guilty

-14 ( +12 / -26 )

3-4 years would be a good start.

Hope this father-son team is brushing up on that Nihongo. Theyll need it.

-24 ( +7 / -31 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites