An American father and son pleaded guilty in Tokyo on Monday to charges that they illegally helped former Nissan Motor Chairman Carlos Ghosn flee Japan hidden in a box aboard a private jet in December 2019.

U.S. Army Special Forces veteran Michael Taylor and his son Peter replied "no" when the judge asked them if there was anything wrong with the charges submitted by the Tokyo Prosecutors' office. It was their first court appearance in the case.

The men face up to three years in prison if convicted of helping Ghosn – currently an international fugitive living in Lebanon, which has no extradition treaty with Japan.

Prosecutors have accused them of helping Ghosn evade punishment and escape to Lebanon from western Japan's Kansai airport, receiving $1.3 million for their services.

At the time of Ghosn's escape, he was awaiting trial on charges that he understated his compensation in Nissan's financial statements by 9.3 billion yen ($85 million) over a decade and enriched himself at his employer's expense through payments to car dealerships.

Ghosn denies any wrongdoing.

Greg Kelly, a former Nissan executive charged with helping Ghosn hide his earnings, is also standing trial in Tokyo. He denies the charges.

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(With input from Reuters, AFP)