Carlos Ghosn's American Aide in 'Japan Escape' Recalls "Prison Life Felt Like Torture"

2019 Carlos Ghosn, Former Nissan Chairman, Escaped Hidden in 'Instrument Case' by Wealthy Man
Detained in Japan for 14 Months... Claims "Less Than 15 Hours Spent Outdoors"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Sung-wook] An American who helped former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn escape from Japan claimed that he endured torture-level imprisonment in Japan.

On the 12th (local time), according to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and Bloomberg News, Peter Taylor (29), who served 14 months in a prison in Yokohama, Japan, and was released last October, stated that he was "undoubtedly subjected to treatment akin to torture." In December 2019, at the request of former chairman Ghosn, he planned the escape with his father Michael Taylor, a former U.S. special forces member, receiving about 1.5 billion won. They successfully hid Ghosn inside a musical instrument case, labeled it as 'checked baggage,' and smuggled him out to Lebanon via a private jet.

The father and son were arrested in Boston, U.S., in May 2020 while wanted by Interpol, and were transferred to a prison in Yokohama last year following Japan's request for extradition. At that time, they filed a lawsuit to stop the extradition, claiming that they would "definitely be tortured in Japan." After his release, Taylor said, "I spent less than 15 hours outdoors during my incarceration and suffered from vitamin D deficiency," adding, "I lost 18 kg in prison, and the prison medical staff did not treat my toe infection, so I walk with a limp."

Taylor also recalled being treated unfairly during solitary confinement, having even his books and bed sheets taken away, and that after threatening a hunger strike, he got his books back after a week. He said, "I was locked in a concrete cell with nothing," and added, "If you can endure solitary confinement in Japan, there won't be many things to be flustered about in life." He also defended Ghosn's escape, saying, "For someone subjected to such treatment for a non-violent crime, escaping is justified."

Ghosn was arrested at the airport in November 2018 on charges including underreporting his salary and false statements in securities reports, as well as special breach of trust. After posting a bail of 1 billion yen, he was released in March 2019, then re-arrested, and after additional bail requests, conditionally released in April, remaining under loose house arrest supervision. Later, with the help of the Taylors, he escaped to his home country Lebanon. Since Lebanon and Japan do not have an extradition treaty, he is reported to still be residing in Lebanon.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.