Japan: Prosecutors issue arrest warrants against Ghosn, ex-US soldier

Japanese authorities issued arrest warrants against a former U.S. special forces operative and two or men accused of smuggling former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn out of Japan. Arrest warrants have been issued for Michael Taylor and George Antoine Zayek, whose photographs were recently released by Turkey’s state news ncy, and two ors including Ghosn, said prosecutors in a statement.

A Japanese news channel h reported that Ghosn boarded a bullet train from Tokyo's Shinagawa station on December 29 and got off at a station in western Osaka. 65-year-old executive took a taxi to a hotel near Kansai airport and availed a private jet to Istanbul. It is believed that business tycoon switched planes and travelled to Beirut.

Escaped via Istanbul

According to media reports, Taylor and Zayek accompanied fugitive business tycoon from Japan to Turkey and landed at smaller Ataturk airport. After travelling across city to Istanbul airport, duo n reportedly helped Ghosn to take a separate flight for Beirut. A global daily claimed that Taylor has served as a US special forces operative and w working as a private security contractor.

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Japanese tax officials h found out that former Nissan executive diverted corporate money for his private use. National Tax ncy of Japan h reached conclusion that Ghosn me donations to a Lebanese University and paid consultant’s fees to his sister using Nissan money. tax ncy h ordered Nissan to pay taxes on 150 million yen, which was recorded as office expenses for three years since y determined that money was spent for private purpose.

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Ghosn was awaiting trial in Japan on financial misconduct charges and was t allowed to contact his wife but she reportedly played an important role in planning his escape. former executive claimed that he h to leave Japan because of “injustice and political persecution”. On December 30, Ghosn was smuggled out from house arrest and reportedly met Leban’s President Michel Aoun and h a warm interaction.

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(With inputs from ncies)