Business

Extradition fight looms for Carlos Ghosn escape duo

Published

4 years ago

May 23, 2020

On Wednesday evening, in an elegant renovated house in a swish district of Beirut, Carlos Ghosn was nearing the end of the 143rd day since his escape from Japan, a vanishing act described by US prosecutors as one of the “most brazen and well orchestrated” in recent history.

Around the same time, almost 9,000 miles away in Boston, the two Americans who US and Japanese prosecutors say made all this possible — Michael Taylor, an ex-Green Beret trained to parachute behind enemy lines and destroy Soviet nuclear weapons, and his 27-year old son, Peter Taylor — were being arrested for their alleged role in the grand deception.

Within the next 10 days, said people in Japan with knowledge of the situation, Tokyo will formally make its extradition request to the US and attempt to bring the father-and-son duo to justice.

That means, said lawyers, that both men could potentially spend more than four years in a Japanese prison if convicted — the very fate that they used their specialist skills and black-ops experience to spare the former Nissan chairman. Mr Ghosn had been on bail awaiting trial on charges of financial crimes when he escaped, charges he has consistently denied.

But between their custody in Boston and any prospect of a trial in Tokyo, said legal experts, stands a potentially thorny political negotiation between the US and Japanese authorities.

Michael and Peter Taylor’s home in Harvard, Massachusetts © Joseph Prezioso/AFP/Getty

In the Taylors’ arrest warrants, US prosecutors note the “overriding national interest” in complying with its obligations to Japan under the extradition treaty.

Michael Taylor has also previously claimed an extensive network of contacts in the US government in a bribery case for which he ultimately served 14 months. His lawyers in 2015 said Mr Taylor had worked as a “law enforcement source and intelligence asset”.

In a statement, Paul Kelly, an attorney for the Taylors, said they “fully expect to challenge the request on several legal and factual grounds” once they receive an actual extradition request.

“Michael Taylor is a distinguished veteran and patriot, and both he and his son deserve a full and fair hearing regarding these issues, both before the courts and the executive branch,” Mr Kelly said.

The interrogations of the Taylors might add detail to an already lurid account of the escape. Documents filed in the US to support the Taylors’ arrest warrants unravel some of the subterfuge that spirited Mr Ghosn — via bullet train and taxis — from central Tokyo to the hold of a private jet in Osaka.

A screen grab released by the Istanbul police department shows Michael Taylor, centre, at passport control in Istanbul Airport — A screen grab released by the Istanbul police shows Michael Taylor, centre, at passport control in Istanbul Airport in December 2019 © Istanbul Police Department

The Taylors join a growing list of people facing the consequences of Mr Ghosn’s flight from bail. In Turkey, four pilots, an aviation manager and two cabin crew have been charged with involvement in the private jet flights that brought Mr Ghosn — at one stage hidden in a box used to transport musical equipment — from Japan to Lebanon. Five of the seven are behind bars in Istanbul’s notorious Silivri prison. Tokyo prosecutors continue a nationwide hunt for the Japanese accomplices.

For the past six weeks, Mr Taylor, 59, and his son, 27, have lived in Boston, having chosen to leave Lebanon for the US this year. In January, Japan issued an arrest warrant for the two Taylors.

“It doesn’t actually matter what the allegations are against these two men,” said Yasuyuki Takai, a prosecutor-turned-defence lawyer. “Ghosn will never face a trial in Japan, so prosecutors want to get a full picture of what happened including his Japanese accomplices.”

A hearing on whether they should be granted bail is expected next week. Extradition proceedings will not begin until Japan has submitted a formal request, which is being prepared by Tokyo prosecutors.

US extradition proceedings have two parts. In the judicial process, magistrate judge Donald Cabell will determine the relatively narrow legal questions about the offences they are charged with in Japan and decide if the pair are extraditable. But ultimately, the decision to extradite or not will be taken by the state department, and it could be a political one.

“Law enforcement is never an entirely black and white issue of the law itself. There’s always a political overlay to some extent. This is about our bilateral relationship with Japan and it is about whether or not we trust their system to treat our citizens fairly,” said Barak Cohen, a former federal prosecutor and partner at Perkins Coie.

The state department referred questions to the Department of Justice. A justice department spokeswoman said: “The United States extradites its nationals, and encourages other countries to do the same.”

Japan only has an extradition treaty with the US and South Korea, and it has made just a handful of extradition requests in the past. It has struggled to enlist other countries to sign the treaty due to differences in legal systems and human rights concerns regarding the death penalty and the so-called hostage system under which Mr Ghosn was subjected to long hours of interrogations without a lawyer present. Mr Ghosn has complained of his treatment in Japan.

Its request for the Taylors follows a rare decision Japan made last year to extradite two citizens to the US for their alleged role in a $1.5bn Ponzi scheme. “Unless there are any special circumstances, I think there is a high possibility that [the Taylors] will be handed over to Japan,” said Masahiro Aichi, expert on criminal law at Chukyo University.

In addition to the prospect of extradition, two people close to the Taylors said there had been issues with payments from Mr Ghosn, possibly related to Lebanon’s severe banking crisis. The payments had not been agreed upon in advance, although they said Mr Ghosn had arranged for expenses for the escape to be paid at the time.

Mr Ghosn’s representative in London declined to comment on either the arrest of the Taylors or the claims made about non-payment.

Additional reporting from Chloe Cornish in Beirut and Laura Pitel in Ankara

(Note: This is a Article Automatically Generated Through Syndication, Here is The Original Source

World

More Trouble For Microsoft, OpenAI: Eight US Newspaper Publishers File Lawsuit For Copyright Infringement

Published

21 hours ago

May 4, 2024

Manoj Nair

More Trouble For Microsoft, OpenAI: Eight US Newspaper Publishers File Lawsuit For Copyright Infringement

Trouble for Microsoft and OpenAI over copyright infringement is not coming to an end, as they face several lawsuits for violating copyrights.

On Tuesday, eight US newspaper publishers sued Microsoft for illegally reusing articles in AI products.

The 98-page long lawsuit further accused the tech companies of attributing erroneous information to the publishers.

The eight newspapers that have filed the lawsuits include the New York Daily News and the Chicago Tribune.

They allege that OpenAI’s ChatGPT used their copyrighted articles to perfect its language models without permission.

The lawsuit was filed in a New York federal court on Tuesday. The publishers claim that OpenAI’s large language models, GPT-2 and GPT-3, were perfected using datasets containing text from their newspapers.

The language models are designed to produce text based on human inputs and reproduce copies of the publishers’ works. Microsoft has been indicted for using newspapers for its Bing search index but seldom provided links to the original articles. Four months ago, The New York Times also filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the tech giant of using data from its past content. It also asked for consent for usage, criticizing the use of full article excerpts in chatbot responses.

The latest lawsuit filed by the eight news outlets also demanded consent and fair value for using their content to perfect the AI language models. The lawsuit alleged that the AI tools literally regurgitate their content without directing users to the content source.

The lawsuit filings stated, “This lawsuit arises from defendants purloining millions of the publishers’ copyrighted articles without permission and without payment to fuel the commercialization of their generative artificial intelligence products, including ChatGPT and (Microsoft’s) Copilot.”

The eight newspapers that instituted the lawsuits are as follows:

The New York Daily News and The Chicago Tribune, both owned by Alden Global Capital
The Orlando Sentinel
The Sun Sentinel
The San Jose Mercury News
The Denver Post
The Orange County Register
The St. Paul Pioneer Press

OpenAI’s Response

OpenAI did not directly respond to the accusations but stated that it takes great care to support the news and media outlets. It also stated it is in continuous partnerships and conversations with various news outlets around the world to explore new opportunities, discuss problems, and seek out solutions.

Microsoft also stated that OpenAI has entered into fruitful partnerships with a number of publishers, which includes The Financial Times, The Associated Press, Spanish conglomerate Prisa Media, and Germany’s Axel Springer.

Net Worth

Alan Patricof Net Worth 2024: How Much is the American Investor Worth?

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2024

Vishnu Chaudhary

Alan Patricof Net Worth 2024: How Much is the American Investor Worth?

Who is Alan Patricof?

Alan Patricof is a prominent figure in the American investment landscape, renowned for his contributions to venture capital. With a career spanning over four decades, Patricof has been instrumental in shaping the growth of numerous global companies, including America Online, Apple Computer, and Audible. His legacy extends beyond business, with involvement in community organizations and government initiatives.

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Frankie Alduino (@frankiealduino)

Alan Patricof Career

Alan Patricof’s career in venture capital began in the industry’s early days. He founded Patricof & Co. Ventures Inc., a precursor to Apax Partners, one of the world’s leading private equity firms. Later, he established Greycroft Partners, focusing on early and expansion-stage investments in digital media. Throughout his career, Patricof’s vision and leadership have played a pivotal role in advancing the venture capital field.

Alan Patricof’s Net Worth

As of May 3, 2024, Alan Patricof’s estimated net worth stands at over $1 million. His wealth is derived from various investments, including holdings in Boston Properties Inc. and successful ventures in digital media. Despite humble beginnings, Patricof’s entrepreneurial spirit and strategic acumen have propelled him to financial success.

Alan Patricof Age

Born in 1934, Alan Patricof is currently in his late eighties. Despite his advanced age, he remains active in the business world, leveraging his wealth of experience to mentor emerging entrepreneurs and drive innovation.

Alan Patricof Family: Wife and Children

Alan Patricof has been married to his wife Susan for over 48 years. Together, they have three children and seven grandchildren. Family holds great importance to Patricof, and he credits his upbringing and heritage for shaping his values and work ethic.

Alan Patricof Height and Weight

While specific details about Alan Patricof’s height and weight are not readily available, his stature in the investment community is undeniable. Patricof’s impact transcends physical measurements, as he continues to leave a lasting legacy in venture capital and philanthropy.

Also Read: Mike Markkula Net Worth 2024: How Much is the Former CEO of Apple Worth?

Net Worth

Stephen M. Ross Net Worth 2024: How Much is the Chairperson of The Related Companies Worth?

Published

3 days ago

May 2, 2024

Vishnu Chaudhary

Stephen M. Ross Net Worth 2024: How Much is the Chairperson of The Related Companies Worth?

Who is Stephen M. Ross?

Stephen M. Ross, the Chairperson of The Related Companies, is a distinguished figure in the real estate sector, renowned for his significant contributions and profound impact. Born on May 10th, 1940, in Detroit, Michigan, Ross embarked on his journey into real estate at a young age, demonstrating remarkable diligence and entrepreneurial spirit. Despite initially pursuing a career as a tax attorney, Ross soon discovered his genuine passion for real estate investment, laying the foundation for his illustrious career.

Stephen M. Ross Career

Ross’s career trajectory is marked by pioneering ventures and transformative projects. In 1972, he founded The Related Companies, which initially focused on subsidized low and moderate-income apartments. Over the years, Ross transitioned to higher-profile projects, including the iconic Hudson Yards development, valued at over $7 billion. His visionary approach and strategic partnerships have cemented his reputation as a prominent figure within the real estate industry.

Stephen M. Ross Net Worth

As of 2024, according to Celebrity Net Worth, Stephen M. Ross’s net worth stands at an impressive $10 billion, solidifying his status as one of the wealthiest individuals globally. Ross’s wealth accumulation is attributed to his unparalleled success as a real estate mogul, with an estimated annual income of nearly $700 million derived from royalties on his diverse property holdings. His continued involvement in the real estate sector, with ongoing projects in New Jersey and Florida, further contributes to his substantial net worth.

Stephen M. Ross Age

Currently, Stephen M. Ross is 83 years old, born on May 10th, 1940. Despite his age, Ross remains actively engaged in his professional pursuits, demonstrating resilience and dedication to his craft.

Stephen M. Ross Family: Wife and Children

Ross’s personal life is characterized by familial bonds and enduring relationships. He is happily married to Kara Ross and is the proud father of four children. Ross’s commitment to family values underscores his holistic approach to life and business.

Stephen M. Ross Height and Weight

Physically, Stephen M. Ross stands at a height of 6 feet 2 inches (1.88m) and maintains a healthy body weight of around 72 kg. Despite his busy schedule, Ross prioritizes his health and well-being, engaging in activities such as volleyball and tennis.

Also Read: Dave Ramsey Net Worth 2024: How Much is American Radio Personality Worth?