Japan issues arrest warrants over Ghosn escape

Video Credit: Reuters Studio
Published on January 30, 2020 - Duration: 01:11s

Japan issues arrest warrants over Ghosn escape

Japanese authorities on Thursday issued arrest warrants for a former U.S. special forces soldier and two other men on suspicion of smuggling former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn out of Japan.

Francis Maguire reports.


Japan issues arrest warrants over Ghosn escape

Japanese authorities have issued warrants for three men on suspicion of smuggling Carlos Ghosn out of the country.

Former U.S. special forces soldier Michael Taylor - who U.S. media have identified as this man walking through passport control in Istanbul - is accused of illegally helping the onetime Nissan boss escape just over a month ago.

Warrants were also issued on Thursday (January 30) for George-Antoine Zayek and Peter Taylor, about whom details are scant.

Ghosn was arrested in late 2018, accused of financial misconduct.

But he escaped Japan while awaiting trial.

Ghosn - who has always denied the charges against him - fled to his childhood home of Lebanon in December The exact circumstances of his escape are still not known.

Now the arrest warrants come days after prosecutors searched the Tokyo office of Ghosn's former lawyer.

Lebanon and Japan have about 40 days to decide whether Ghosn will be extradited to Japan - or stand trial in Lebanon.

The two countries have no extradition treaty and Lebanon does not typically hand over its nationals.

Ghosn's legal team hopes the trial is held in Lebanon, where he aims to clear his name.

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