Two American men suspected of helping former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn skip bail in Japan and flee to Lebanon in December 2019 have arrived in Tokyo for a criminal investigation and probable trial.
Michael Taylor and his son Peter, who had been detained in a Boston jail since last May, were handed over to Japanese custody on Monday in Boston for extradition and were flown to Tokyo on Tuesday.
Televised video showed a Japan Airlines flight carrying the two men land at Narita International Airport on Tuesday afternoon. They were largely hidden behind a tarpaulin held up by Japanese authorities.
The Taylors are to be taken to the Tokyo detention centre where Ghosn was held before being released on bail.
Ghosn, who led Nissan for more than two decades, was arrested in 2018 and charged with underreporting his future compensation and breach of trust in diverting Nissan money for personal gain. He says he is innocent.
Japan has put Ghosn on Interpol’s wanted list, but Lebanon has no extradition treaty with Japan.
Tokyo deputy prosecutor Hiroshi Yamamoto confirmed the Taylors had arrived at Narita International Airport, and were arrested on suspicion of aiding a criminal.
Dates for their trial and formal charges were still undecided. Under Japanese law, suspects can be held without formal charge for up to 23 days.
“We would like to deeply thank the US government for their co-operation,” Mr Yamamoto said.
