A US Special Forces veteran and his son pleaded guilty in Tokyo on Monday to charges that they illegally helped former Nissan Motor Co Ltd Chairman Carlos Ghosn flee Japan hidden in a box aboard a private jet in December 2019. 
 
Chief judge Hideo Nirei, one of three judges presiding over their first court appearance, asked Michael Taylor and his son Peter whether there was any mistake in the charges submitted by the Tokyo Prosecutors` office. 
 
"No your honour," the older Taylor replied. "No," said his son. 
 
Extradited to Japan from the United States in March, they are being held at the same jail in Tokyo where Ghosn was detained. They could face up to three years in prison. 
 
Wearing black jackets and pants, white shirts and plastic slippers, they were led into court with ropes threaded through handcuffs and tied around their waists. 
 
Prosecutors accused them of helping Ghosn evade punishment and escape&nbsp;to Lebanon from western Japan`s Kansai airport, receiving $1.3 million for their services, some of which was paid to an advertising company owned by the younger Taylor. 
 
The prosecutors'&nbsp;statement on Monday, which described the younger Taylor as a frequent visitor to Lebanon, said planning for the escape began around six months before Ghosn fled. 
 
The statement also said that Ghosn`s wife Carole Ghosn sought help from Michael Taylor, with Ghosn later contacting him from Tokyo with a phone he had hidden from Japanese authorities. 
 
A third man George-Antoine Zayek, recruited by the Taylors, travelled to Japan later in 2019 to find a way through airport security, settling on the private jet terminal at Kansai airport as the best route out, the prosecutors said. Zayek remains at large. 
 
The luggage that does not fit through the security scanning machine there is inspected by hand. That check, however, can be waived by the pilot. 
 
The Taylors'&nbsp;lawyers in the United States waged a months-long battle to prevent their extradition to Japan, arguing they could not be prosecuted for helping someone "bail jump" and that they could face relentless interrogations and torture. 
 
Suspects in Japan are interrogated without their lawyers present and are often denied bail before trial. 
 
Japan's conviction rate is 99%. 
 
At the time of Ghosn`s escape, he was awaiting trial on charges that he understated his compensation in Nissan`s financial statements by 9.3 billion yen ($85 million) over a decade and enriched himself at his employer`s expense through payments to car dealerships. 
 
Ghosn, who denies any wrongdoing, remains a fugitive in his childhood home, which has no extradition treaty with Japan. 
 
Greg Kelly, a former Nissan executive charged with helping Ghosn hide his earnings, is also standing trial in Tokyo. He denies the charges.

A US Special Forces veteran and his son pleaded guilty in Tokyo on Monday to charges that they illegally helped former Nissan Motor Co Ltd Chairman Carlos Ghosn flee Japan hidden in a box aboard a private jet in December 2019.

A US Special Forces veteran and his son pleaded guilty in Tokyo on Monday to charges that they illegally helped former Nissan Motor Co Ltd Chairman Carlos Ghosn flee Japan hidden in a box aboard a private jet in December 2019. Chief judge Hideo Nirei, one of three judges presiding over their first court appearance, asked Michael Taylor and his son Peter whether there was any mistake in the charges submitted by the Tokyo Prosecutors` office. "No your honour," the older Taylor replied. "No," said his son. Extradited to Japan from the United States in March, they are being held at the same jail in Tokyo where Ghosn was detained. They could face up to three years in prison. Wearing black jackets and pants, white shirts and plastic slippers, they were led into court with ropes threaded through handcuffs and tied around their waists. Prosecutors accused them of helping Ghosn evade punishment and escape to Lebanon from western Japan`s Kansai airport, receiving $1.3 million for their services, some of which was paid to an advertising company owned by the younger Taylor. The prosecutors' statement on Monday, which described the younger Taylor as a frequent visitor to Lebanon, said planning for the escape began around six months before Ghosn fled. The statement also said that Ghosn`s wife Carole Ghosn sought help from Michael Taylor, with Ghosn later contacting him from Tokyo with a phone he had hidden from Japanese authorities. A third man George-Antoine Zayek, recruited by the Taylors, travelled to Japan later in 2019 to find a way through airport security, settling on the private jet terminal at Kansai airport as the best route out, the prosecutors said. Zayek remains at large. The luggage that does not fit through the security scanning machine there is inspected by hand. That check, however, can be waived by the pilot. The Taylors' lawyers in the United States waged a months-long battle to prevent their extradition to Japan, arguing they could not be prosecuted for helping someone "bail jump" and that they could face relentless interrogations and torture. Suspects in Japan are interrogated without their lawyers present and are often denied bail before trial. Japan's conviction rate is 99%. At the time of Ghosn`s escape, he was awaiting trial on charges that he understated his compensation in Nissan`s financial statements by 9.3 billion yen ($85 million) over a decade and enriched himself at his employer`s expense through payments to car dealerships. Ghosn, who denies any wrongdoing, remains a fugitive in his childhood home, which has no extradition treaty with Japan. Greg Kelly, a former Nissan executive charged with helping Ghosn hide his earnings, is also standing trial in Tokyo. He denies the charges.

American duo plead guilty to helping former Nissan chief Ghosn flee Japan

A Turkish court convicted an executive of Turkish jet company MNG and two pilots over their role in flying former Nissan Motor Co Ltd Chairman Carlos Ghosn out of Japan during his escape to Lebanon.

The court sentenced them to four years and two months on charges of migrant smuggling. It acquitted two other pilots of the same charge.

Ghosn, who was a global business superstar when his career came crashing to an end, fled Japan in December 2019 while out on bail facing financial misconduct charges.

He was arrested in November 2018 and had been expected to face trial in April 2020 on charges including understating his pay and misusing company assets.

He spent 130 days in prison before being released on bail and completing his audacious escape act.

Ghosn, who has denied any wrongdoing, has said he fled because he could not get a fair trial in Japan.

Nissan's former CEO appeared in a Tokyo court on Wednesday in the trial of Greg Kelly, a former aide to Carlos&nbsp;Ghosn&nbsp;facing charges of financial misconduct.

Kelly is the only person currently on trial in Japan in connection with the&nbsp;Ghosn&nbsp;saga after the auto tycoon jumped bail in late 2019 and escaped to Lebanon, where he remains an international fugitive.

Kelly faces a single charge of conspiring to under-report tens of millions of dollars in pay that&nbsp;Ghosn&nbsp;was allegedly promised after his retirement.

A Turkish court convicted an executive of Turkish jet company MNG and two pilots over their role in flying former Nissan Motor Co Ltd Chairman Carlos Ghosn out of Japan during his escape to Lebanon.

A Turkish court convicted an executive of Turkish jet company MNG and two pilots over their role in flying former Nissan Motor Co Ltd Chairman Carlos Ghosn out of Japan during his escape to Lebanon. The court sentenced them to four years and two months on charges of migrant smuggling. It acquitted two other pilots of the same charge. Ghosn, who was a global business superstar when his career came crashing to an end, fled Japan in December 2019 while out on bail facing financial misconduct charges. He was arrested in November 2018 and had been expected to face trial in April 2020 on charges including understating his pay and misusing company assets. He spent 130 days in prison before being released on bail and completing his audacious escape act. Ghosn, who has denied any wrongdoing, has said he fled because he could not get a fair trial in Japan. Nissan's former CEO appeared in a Tokyo court on Wednesday in the trial of Greg Kelly, a former aide to Carlos Ghosn facing charges of financial misconduct. Kelly is the only person currently on trial in Japan in connection with the Ghosn saga after the auto tycoon jumped bail in late 2019 and escaped to Lebanon, where he remains an international fugitive. Kelly faces a single charge of conspiring to under-report tens of millions of dollars in pay that Ghosn was allegedly promised after his retirement.

Turkey jails three for aiding Carlos Ghosn escape from Japan

Japanese automaker Nissan on Tuesday slammed its former chief Carlos Ghosn for jumping bail, calling his <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/carlos-ghosn-fled-by-bullet-train-japan-vows-to-bolster-borders-272500">escape</a> "extremely regrettable" and vowing continued legal action to hold him accountable.

Ghosn, who faced trial on financial misconduct charges that he denies, fled Japan on December 29 for Lebanon, in an elaborate and apparently carefully planned escape.

Watch:&nbsp;'The Great Escape' of ex-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/the-great-escape-of-carlos-ghosn-271595/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

His bail-jumping has prompted outrage from Japanese officials, but he insists that he would have been unable to receive a fair trial in Japan.&nbsp;

In a statement, Nissan said <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?q=Former+Nissan+boss+Carlos+Ghosn+reportedly+escaped+Tokyo+on+public+bullet+train">Ghosn's escape</a> "in violation of his bail conditions is an act that defies Japan's judicial system. Nissan finds it extremely regrettable."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/unexpected-surprise-how-did-nissan-boss-carlos-ghosn-escape-to-lebanon-271401">'Unexpected surprise': How did Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn escape to Lebanon?&nbsp;</a>

The firm said its "robust, thorough internal investigation" had "incontrovertible evidence of various acts of misconduct by Ghosn".

"The company will continue to take appropriate legal action to hold Ghosn accountable for the harm that his misconduct has caused to Nissan," it added.

Ghosn alleges that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/unexpected-surprise-nissan-boss-carlos-ghosn-flees-to-lebanon-japan-calls-it-cowardly-act-271393">charges against him</a> stem from a "coup" inside Nissan by disgruntled executives and local Japanese officials who feared his plans to more closely integrate the Japanese automaker with its alliance partner, French firm Renault.

Ghosn is due to give a press conference in Beirut on Wednesday, where he has said he will provide details about the alleged "coup" against him.

Japanese automaker Nissan on Tuesday slammed its former chief Carlos Ghosn for jumping bail, calling his escape "extremely regrettable" and vowing continued legal action to hold him accountable.

Japanese automaker Nissan on Tuesday slammed its former chief Carlos Ghosn for jumping bail, calling his escape "extremely regrettable" and vowing continued legal action to hold him accountable. Ghosn, who faced trial on financial misconduct charges that he denies, fled Japan on December 29 for Lebanon, in an elaborate and apparently carefully planned escape. Watch: 'The Great Escape' of ex-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn His bail-jumping has prompted outrage from Japanese officials, but he insists that he would have been unable to receive a fair trial in Japan. In a statement, Nissan said Ghosn's escape "in violation of his bail conditions is an act that defies Japan's judicial system. Nissan finds it extremely regrettable." Also read: 'Unexpected surprise': How did Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn escape to Lebanon? The firm said its "robust, thorough internal investigation" had "incontrovertible evidence of various acts of misconduct by Ghosn". "The company will continue to take appropriate legal action to hold Ghosn accountable for the harm that his misconduct has caused to Nissan," it added. Ghosn alleges that the charges against him stem from a "coup" inside Nissan by disgruntled executives and local Japanese officials who feared his plans to more closely integrate the Japanese automaker with its alliance partner, French firm Renault. Ghosn is due to give a press conference in Beirut on Wednesday, where he has said he will provide details about the alleged "coup" against him.

Ghosn's escape 'extremely regrettable': Nissan

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American duo plead guilty to helping former Nissan chief Ghosn flee Japan

Turkey jails three for aiding Carlos Ghosn escape from Japan

Ghosn's escape 'extremely regrettable': Nissan