"Recently Japan has pursued extradition from the U.S. of Michael and Peter Taylor who are accused of aiding Carlos Ghosn in fleeing Japan. On Sept 4, U.S. Magistrate Judge Donald Cabell issued a ruling approving the extradition.
Some Japanese nationals are wanted and charged under the U.S. laws for international parental kidnapping (18 U.S.C.§1204) and with passport fraud (18 U.S.C.§1542). These combined are viewed by some to align with Articles 224 and 226 of the Japanese penal code. This would make them extraditable offenses.
Will the Ministry of Justice commit to extraditing these wanted individuals? If not, can you provide some details why Japan would not wish to uphold the extradition treaty with the U.S.?"
With the resignation of Prime Minister Abe, Justice Minister Mori will resign next week. Some may suggest that we will have to see what the next administration's response to international parental child abduction will be. This approach is an ill-informed trap often applied by U.S. bureaucrats. The party in power in Japan remains in power. It is a process of musical chairs. Mr. Abe is out. The only question is where the rest of the current players will be seated when the music stops.
For years Japan has avoided upholding its extradition treaty commitments with the U.S. Now they are using the treaty to attempt to extradite two American citizens who stand accused of aiding former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn flee Japan. Mr. Ghosn is accused of financial misconduct.
It is Japan's duty to hold kidnapping parents responsible for their actions. Avoidance makes the Government of Japan complicit.
Ten years ago the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that found, parents who kidnap are inflicting daily harm to children, which "can have devastating consequences for a child" and may be "one of the worst forms of child abuse" that "can cause psychological problems ranging from depression and acute stress disorder to posttraumatic stress disorder and identity formation issues" and lead to a child's experiencing "loss of community and stability, leading to loneliness, anger, and fear of abandonment."