They were accused of having helped the former head of the Renault-Nissan Alliance in his incredible escape from Japan at the end of 2019. Okan Kösemen, head of a private jet rental company, and two of his pilots, Noyan Pasin and Bahri Kutlu Sömek, were sentenced on Wednesday in Istanbul for "organized smuggling of migrants".
The first was sentenced to four years in prison and the other two to two months in prison.
One of their lawyers told AFP that they would appeal the conviction.
The court also acquitted two other pilots and two flight attendants who were on trial alongside them.
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Carlos Ghosn, accused in Japan of financial embezzlement, fled the country aboard a private jet belonging to a Turkish company which landed in Istanbul, before going to Lebanon where he found refuge.
He claims to have been treated "like a terrorist" by the Japanese courts.
Both pilots claim they knew nothing
According to the Turkish prosecutor, it was two other alleged accomplices of Carlos Ghosn, Michael Taylor, a former member of the American special forces, and George-Antoine Zayek, a Lebanese national, who "recruited" Okan Kösemen, the accused executive of the Turkish company. MNG Jet, to ensure smooth transit through Istanbul.
According to the indictment, the private jet landed at Atatürk Airport in Istanbul, then Carlos Ghosn boarded a second aircraft which took off for Beirut.
Michael Taylor, helped by his son Pete, and George-Antoine Zayek had themselves prepared his escape from a room at the Grand Hyatt in Tokyo.
The fallen tycoon had hidden in a bulky musical instrument case in which 70 holes had been drilled to allow him to breathe.
The Turkish authorities accuse Okan Kösemen of having received several transfers for a total amount exceeding 250,000 euros in the months preceding the escape of Carlos Ghosn.
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The two pilots at the controls of the plane which made the connection between Osaka and Istanbul, for their part, rejected the accusations.
And maintained that they were not aware of the presence of Carlos Ghosn on board the aircraft.
“I didn't expect this condemnation.
There is no concrete evidence.
I'm surprised, ”said Noyan Pasin after the hearing.
