Michael Taylor, a former army green beret and his son, Peter Taylor apologized for their involvement in helping ex-Nissan chairperson Carlos Ghosn in an elaborate escape from justice in 2019 in connection to a financial scandal.

Appearing in a Tokyo court, the father-and-son tandem expressed "regret" with their heads bowed for the "trouble" they made in helping Ghosn escape.

"I deeply regret my actions and sincerely apologize for causing difficulties for the judicial process and for the Japanese people," The Wall Street Journal quoted the elder Taylor as saying in court.

"I take all responsibility and deeply regret my actions," his son Peter said to the judges.

The three judges will decide their sentence and ask the duo to be allowed to return to the United States to see their family.

The two men pleaded guilty this month to charges of illegally helping the Nissan top executive escape from Kansai airport in Japan, Reuters said.

To flee, Ghosn hid in a box onboard a private plane to Lebanon in December 2019.

Ghosn argues that he was escaping injustice in Japan's legal system and remains free in Lebanon.

Lebanon authorities have declined to act on an international warrant for Ghosn to be returned, according to The Associated Press.

Ghosn had led Nissan for 20 years. He was arrested in November 2018 on charges of financial fraud.

According to prosecutors, Michael and Peter received $1.3 million in payments for their efforts and an extra $500,000 for legal fees through a series of bank transfers and bitcoin payments, reports said.