KYODO NEWS - Jan 30, 2020 - 16:55 | All, Japan

Tokyo prosecutors on Thursday obtained a fresh arrest warrant for former Nissan Motor Co. Chairman Carlos Ghosn for leaving Japan while on bail in violation of the immigration control law.

The prosecutors also secured warrants for three others allegedly involved in helping Ghosn leave Japan in late December. Ghosn announced himself to be in Lebanon on Dec. 31.

The three are Michael Taylor, 59, a former member of the U.S. Army Special Forces known as the Green Berets, George Zayek, 60, and Peter Taylor, 26.

The three are suspected of taking the 65-year-old former auto tycoon to a hotel in Osaka Prefecture, western Japan, and hiding him inside a box before taking him to Kansai International Airport in the prefecture and helping him pass a security inspection there despite knowing Ghosn's bail conditions did not allow him to travel overseas.

There was no record of Ghosn's departure, and Justice Minister Masako Mori has said he left the country illegally.

Ghosn, who holds Brazilian, French and Lebanese nationality, arrived in Lebanon via Turkey after leaving Japan. As Japan does not have an extradition treaty with Lebanon, Ghosn is unlikely to return to Japan.

He was facing trial in Japan over the alleged underreporting of his remuneration by billions of yen in Nissan's securities reports during the eight years through March 2018 as well as misuse of company funds.

After arriving in Beirut, Ghosn said he fled Japan to escape the country's "rigged" justice system.

On Wednesday, Tokyo prosecutors searched the office of lawyer Junichiro Hironaka, who had represented Ghosn until earlier this month, in connection with Ghosn's escape to Lebanon.

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