A U.S. court ruled Friday that two men accused of helping former Nissan Motor Co. boss Carlos Ghosn escape from Japan last year while awaiting trial on financial misconduct charges could be extradited to Japan.
Following the approval from a federal court in Massachusetts of the possible extradition of a former Green Beret and his son to Japanese prosecutors, the State Department is expected to make a final decision on the matter.
Tokyo's request for the handover of Michael Taylor, a 59-year-old former member of the U.S. Army Special Forces, and his 27-year-old son Peter Taylor is based on a bilateral extradition treaty.
Related coverage:
Nissan slapped with more tax penalties from Ghosn period
Toyota expects 64% full-year net profit fall as pandemic dents demand
Trial for accused Ghosn accomplice set to begin Sept. 15
After Tokyo prosecutors obtained arrest warrants for the men, U.S. authorities arrested the two in Massachusetts in May for their alleged involvement in the escape of Ghosn in late December. Ghosn fled to Lebanon, where he spent his childhood, via Turkey.
The court had examined whether the two men should be extradited to Japan.
Ghosn, who headed Nissan for nearly two decades, faced trial in Japan on allegations that he misused company funds and understated his remuneration by billions of yen for years.
The 66-year-old has denied the allegations and said he fled Japan to escape what he described as a "rigged" justice system.
