Ghosn accomplice calls for inmates to be treated humanely in Japan

Savage stuff worthy of a barbaric feudal system.

Hard to understand how a modern civilized nation can treat prisoners in such a barbaric way. It is shameful and an embarrassment for all Japanese people. A reflection of a darker side to Japan, not spoken about in any official capacity, but its existence is undeniable.

If his statements are true then Japan has a long, long way to go in order to achieve a just penal system.

And it's not about something as lame as "do the crime, do the time" - but more about basic human decency in a modern democratic society.

Yes he was found guilty and sentenced, however the claims of 1.5 years solitary, showering twice a month, freezing cells, prohibited to call friends or family and restricted in letter writing sounds like something out of a Gulag. And for a non-violent, non-thieving, minimally damaging crime to person or property!!!

For Japan to earn any dose of respect Internationally and afford it's own citizens abroad fairness and justice, it'd do good to initiate a direly needed transformation of an outdated system.

@JEE and @Peter14, add the fact that inmates in Japan can't call their loved ones while in prison.

Just last year, Denmark refused to give Watson to Japan citing that he couldn't get fair trail while in Japan. It doesn't need even need to mention Japanese prison condition.

https://oceanographicmagazine.com/news/anti-whaling-activist-paul-watson-freed-from-danish-prison/

https://www.neptunespirates.uk/post/denmark-stands-firm-japan-s-extradition-request-for-paul-watson-rejected

The sentence was for helping Ghosn. The punishment was for embarrassing Japan.

Though Ghosn had covered "some of the legal fees," Taylor says he is still in debt from outstanding bills, after fees in Japan exceeded $500,000.

If this is true, it sounds like Ghosn has stiffed Taylor. He should have paid him $millions after all Taylor did for him.

The sentence was for helping Ghosn. The punishment was for embarrassing Japan.

Now Japan just got someone who talk for free, doing public relation globally about Japan's harsh, inhuman and outdated prison system.

History has taught us the bitter lesson that democracy, freedom and humanity die in the dark, the places where arrogant government officials addicted to power keep the lights switched off. The state of a country's human rights can be measured by a government's treatment of its prison inmates. Japan still flunks.

he had consulted with several attorneys before aiding Ghosn and was told that "bail jumping is not a crime" in the country's legal system

Get better consultants next time !

Japan obviously is not happy a foreigner was running Nissan, which now continues to decline, therefore, Japan should know quite well that US Steel is not available for Nippon Steel.

Everything that has happened since Ghosn escaped has vindicated him and shone a bright light on Japan's violations of international responsibility.

He’s already out of prison. Time flies. I think Ghosn should cover the former Green Beret’s $500,000 debt. He’s enjoying his life in exile thanks to the Taylors.

I'm very sure Taylor is being recompensed for his incarceration time by Ghosn and associates.

That'd be a given.

Just because it's not reported by Kyodo and others means nothing.

Ghosn and his family must have been extremely appreciative.

Japanese do not handle criticism well, as evidenced by the number of down votes for those calling out Japan's inhumane treatment of prisoners, yet none have the courage to make a comment to support it.

The treatment reminds of what POW's could expect in WWII at the hands of Japan. It would seem minimal progress has been made in cracking the harsh nature of incarceration in Japan, even in peace times.

I am simply saying Japan can do better, without being soft on crime. The length of imprisonment will continue to reflect the determination to ensure crime does not pay in Japan. But there is a minimal standard for the treatment of humans, and Japan does not yet meet those minimums.

so he was a former war hero? I dunno, we dunno who actually penned the script, I retain a circumspect approach.

“Japanese do not handle criticism well, as evidenced by the number of down votes for those calling out Japan's inhumane treatment of prisoners, yet none have the courage to make a comment to support it.”

How do you know those downvotes are from Japanese?

While imprisoned, Taylor suffered frostbite from being housed in an unheated cell, was allowed to write only four letters per month, and was not permitted to make phone calls to family or friends, even when he received news that his father was about to die, he said.

and this is from a former Green beret! Calculated, cold, hard core inhumane treatment designed to break the will of anyone that falls into the jaws of this J judiciary, especially in a case that caused a huge loss to the collective face. Someone has to pay if they can’t make Ghosn.

There will be little will to even have the conversations to change from within the culture either. No matter what this fella tells the world about his experience. They like it this way.

 he suffered "degrading and inhumane treatment," 

Don't commit a crime then. Besides, Ghosn paid him very well so suck it up.

claiming to have been kept in solitary confinement for 17 months. 

Isolation is applied in Japanese prisons for disciplinary reasons, or protection from other inmates. He should have simply followed instructions like every other prisoner.

 He also said he was only permitted to take two showers in six months.

LOL. This guy is talking out his rear end. The average showers for a prisoner in Japanese prisons is 2-3 times per week. Which is often increased in the summer months.

Don’t want to see the inside of a Japanese prison, don’t break the law. Pretty easy rule to follow.

@ossan A if you remember your Innocent untill proven guilty, at the point of Mt ghosn imprisonment, he was on remand, he wasn't convicted, his case still hadn't gone to trial, so making the comment about don't commit a crime is silly in this case, he was accused of lots of things, which looks fabricated to say the least,

RE: He also said he was only permitted to take two showers in six months.

Hmm. How about baths?

Brian WhewayToday  09:23 pm JST

@ossan A if you remember your Innocent untill proven guilty, at the point of Mt ghosn imprisonment, he was on remand, he wasn't convicted, his case still hadn't gone to trial, so making the comment about don't commit a crime is silly in this case, he was accused of lots of things, which looks fabricated to say the least,

Ghosn jumped bail and forfeited his chance to plead and prove his innocence. He is guilty of bail jumping. Why? Because having lived in luxury he couldn't handle being treated just like all the other prisoners. And obviously he had no confidence in being able to defend himself, a clear indicator of guilt.

Nothing about Michael Taylor was made up. Both he and his son admitted to having smuggled Ghosn out of Japan.

I have very fews fears about living in Japan; but your worst nightmare would be being arrested for something you didn't do. Japan doesn't have a modern, functioning legal system. You're guilty once arrested, and screwed.

Ghosn jumped bail and forfeited his chance to plead and prove his innocence.

You just made his point. In Japan, just like what the former Minister of Justice said, you have to prove your innocence. Not the other way around.

Here, you are guilty until proven innocen. Everybody knows that. Everybody.

If this is true, it sounds like Ghosn has stiffed Taylor. He should have paid him $millions after all Taylor did for him.

It does sound like that. He should do another mission. Go to Lebanon, abduct Ghosn and put him on a private plane bound for Japan. Ghosn has until he lands to make payment if he wants the plane to turn around.

I wonder where Carlos really is right now.

I have very fews fears about living in Japan; but your worst nightmare would be being arrested for something you didn't do. Japan doesn't have a modern, functioning legal system. You're guilty once arrested, and screwed.

This. I have been accused of crimes I did not commit. I was able to explain things satisfactorily to the police. Acquaintances have not been so lucky. Detained 23 days on BS charges. Loss of work. No apology or acknowledgment of error.

Mr. Miyazaki, a specialist lawyer for prison inmates, describes a typical day at corrections facilities here: https://www.daylight-law.jp/criminal/column/column7/

Takeaways: Time is allowed daily for prisoners to shower.

doesn't have a modern, functioning legal system. You're guilty once arrested, and screwed.

Not describing the US plea bargaining system, are you?

Yes he was found guilty and sentenced, however the claims of 1.5 years solitary, showering twice a month, freezing cells, prohibited to call friends or family and restricted in letter writing sounds like something out of a Gulag.

You might want to check out the above link.

Savage stuff worthy of a barbaric feudal system.

Nailed it. That's the system here. Spoken like an エキスパート。

Japanese do not handle criticism well

Welcome to the world, Peter.

@リッチ

Don’t want to see the inside of a Japanese prison, don’t break the law. Pretty easy rule to follow.

Is not easy to be able to do that in Japan, especially when prosecution demand 99% conviction rate. You need luck then just following rule.

You can blame Japan, but the U.S. is a collaborator by virtue of its extradition.

Savage stuff worthy of a barbaric feudal system.

agree

and this is from a former Green beret! Calculated, cold, hard core inhumane treatment designed to break the will of anyone that falls into the jaws of this J judiciary, especially in a case that caused a huge loss to the collective face. Someone has to pay if they can’t make Ghosn.

There will be little will to even have the conversations to change from within the culture either. No matter what this fella tells the world about his experience. They like it this way.

Well said Ricky.

What is this pussy comparing it to ?? Big tough Green Beret would not last day in Abu Ghraib. Japan Prison don,t have race segregation, don't have gangs, Don't have raping, don't have murders, don't have drugs, don't have rats and pestilence, don't have contaminated food. I rather get frostbite to than being raped daily or murdered, be blackmail and standover by other criminals. Japan prison has the world best practice for prison nutrition. This idiot bears a grudge against the Japanese government and will lash out on the littlest concerns just to darken Japan international standing. All this coming from a convicted criminal proven untrustworthy. Tell your story walk.

Two showers in six months? That's completely false, two per week. Phone call prohibited its for everybody, not only him.

Now, its true that conditions are hard, medical care almost zero, freezing in winter, not enough food etc....since decades embassies push the authorities to change conditions but Japan prefer to live in past century.

Rigorous prison regimes. There is no AC or heating in the cells. Systems are based on punishment rather than rehabilitation. Food basic. No phone calls. Limited letters and visits.

Solitary confinement would suggest he was being intentionally belligerent.

I know several people of various races who have been to prison in Japan, and while they say it is highly regimented, it is nowhere near as inhumane as Taylor claims.

Showers were every other day, with daily shower privileges for those who worked at the various workshops or laundry and kitchen.

An American friend of mine was even given private shower privileges because communal bathing “wasn’t American culture.”

Well, I don't know how true Mr. Taylor is talking about because when I was behind bars in Japan, we took a shower with hot bath twice a week and a free time to smoke for 15 minutes.

Solitary confinement for 17 months is a cruel and unnecessary punishment for someone charged with a non-violent crime. Let out only for a very short time each day.

Solitary confinement would suggest he was being intentionally belligerent.

He would maintain his innocence and that he is not guilty of any crime. In a Japanese system demanding 99% conviction, he would be held in harsher conditions until he goes along with authorities and admits guilt, even after being sentenced.

I know several people of various races who have been to prison in Japan, and while they say it is highly regimented, it is nowhere near as inhumane as Taylor claims.

No doubt they fully cooperated and did everything they were told to do, like admitting guilt. A smart move in Japan once "captured" by police. And every prison is different, low, medium and maximum security facilities. The higher the security the harsher the conditions.

This. I have been accused of crimes I did not commit. I was able to explain things satisfactorily to the police. Acquaintances have not been so lucky. Detained 23 days on BS charges. Loss of work. No apology or acknowledgment of error.

What are the specific charges about this and what exactly happened? What "things" were explained? What "BS charges"?

The loss of freedom when imprisoned should be the punishment.

No need to add on all the nasty, dehumanising stuff the Japanese system adds.

He should not complain, ask others who have been in jails in other Asian countries.

It would be good to verify and not just blindly believe what Mr. Taylor says.

Prisons in many countries in Asia and Africa are known to be by far worse than those in Japan.

There are too many similar stories such as his, to think the guy is exagerrating or blowing things out of proportions.

The Penal and Justice system in Japan are still stuck into WW2 times sadly.

The same mentality, the "guilty until proved innocent" system, the same cangaroo courts for the foreigners, etc.

Those kind of things should be also advertised outside, by the Japanophilles and the weebs thinking Japan is only honey and nectar, and the most civilized country of the world.