Carlos Ghosn at a press conference at Kaslik University, Lebanon, September 29, 2020. -

Hussein Malla / AP / SIPA

A US federal judge on Thursday gave the green light for the extradition to Japan of two Americans, arrested in May 2020 and suspected of helping former Renault-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn to flee the country.

They are Michael Taylor and his son Peter Taylor, both arrested in May 2020 and imprisoned since.

They are accused by Japan of helping the fallen auto tycoon escape Japanese justice during a spectacular escape on December 29, 2019.

Japanese detention conditions do not prevent extradition

Judge Indira Talwani considered that the arguments put forward by the two men, according to which they notably risked being subjected to conditions close to torture in Japanese prisons, were not sufficient to derogate from the extradition treaty between Tokyo and Washington.

"Even though prison conditions in Japan might be deplorable, and even though the criminal process to which the Taylors will be subjected may not satisfy the American due diligence process," the Japanese conditions do not constitute "" severe suffering or mental and physical suffering "as envisaged by the texts", wrote the judge in his decision of 29 pages.

Arrested in May 2020

The two men have not established "that it was more likely than not that they would be subjected to torture in Japan," he added.

The judge also stressed that the acts with which they are accused constituted an offense both in the United States and in Japan.

Michael Taylor, a former member of the US special forces converted to private security, and his son Peter were arrested in May 2020 after Japan issued an arrest warrant against them.

Peter Taylor was arrested in Boston while on his way to Lebanon, a country where the former head of the Renault-Nissan automotive alliance took refuge and which has no extradition treaty with Japan .

Three men suspected of helping Ghosn flee Japan

Considered to present a "great risk of flight", the two men had been imprisoned since, pending the outcome of the extradition procedure.

The two men, along with the Lebanese George-Antoine Zayek, are accused by Japan of helping the fallen auto tycoon escape Japanese justice in a spectacular escape on December 29, 2019. Targeted by complaints for financial embezzlement, Carlos Ghosn was then free on bail.

Hidden in a slush board on a private jet

According to US court documents, the three men apparently helped him hide in a large slush fund, similar to a musical instrument cabinet, which they then boarded a private jet, the baggage control was not compulsory for this type of aircraft at the time.

Lawyers for the Taylors immediately appealed this decision, but it is not immediately clear how quickly this appeal could be considered.

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