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The
ruling by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston cleared
the way for U.S. Army Special Forces veteran Michael Taylor and
his son, Peter Taylor, to be handed over to Japan, after the
U.S. State Department approved their extradition.
The Taylors' lawyers had argued they could not be prosecuted in
Japan for helping someone "bail jump" and that, if extradited,
they faced the prospect relentless interrogations and torture.
Ghosn in a court filing sought to support their claim, arguing
he faced prolonged detention, mental torture and intimidation in
Japan and the Taylors would face "similar or worse conditions."
But Talwani said that "although the prison conditions in Japan
may be deplorable," that was not enough to bar extradition and
that authorities had established their alleged actions were an
"extraditable offense."
Lawyers for the Taylors quickly moved to appeal. They declined
to comment, as did Nissan. Ghosn and the Japanese embassy in
Washington did not immediately comment.
The Taylors were arrested in May at Japan's request. Talwani put
their extradition on hold on Oct. 29 so she could hear their
challenge to the State Department's decision.
Prosecutors say the Taylors helped Ghosn flee Japan on Dec. 29,
2019, hidden in a box and on a private jet before reaching his
childhood home, Lebanon, which has no extradition treaty with
Japan.
Ghosn was awaiting trial on charges that he engaged in financial
wrongdoing, including by understating his compensation in
Nissan's financial statements. Ghosn has denied wrongdoing.
Prosecutors said the elder Taylor, a private security
specialist, and his son received $1.3 million for their
services.
(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston and David Shepardson in
Washington; Editing by David Gregorio and Grant McCool)
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