MELBOURNE: Former US Marine Corps pilot Daniel Duggan on Thursday (Oct 16) appealed his extradition from Australia to america over allegations that he illegally skilled Chinese language navy aviators greater than a decade in the past.
Duggan is accused of coaching Chinese language navy pilots whereas working as an teacher for the Take a look at Flying Academy of South Africa in 2012.
He appeared on the court docket in Canberra to file the enchantment together with his legal professional after touring 350km from a jail in Wellington, New South Wales state.
Australian Federal Courtroom Justice James Stellios will announce a verdict on a date but to be set following a one-day listening to within the nationwide capital Canberra.
A 2016 indictment from the US District Courtroom in Washington, which was unsealed in late 2022, alleges Duggan conspired with others to offer coaching to Chinese language navy pilots in 2010 and 2012, and probably different instances, with out making use of for an applicable licence.
Prosecutors allege Duggan acquired about 9 funds totaling round A$88,000 (US$61,000) from one other conspirator in addition to journey to the US, South Africa and China for what was generally described as “private growth coaching”.
Duggan has denied the allegations, saying they had been political posturing by the US, which unfairly singled him out. He has been held in most safety prisons since he was arrested in 2022 at a grocery store close to his household residence in New South Wales.
Australia’s then Lawyer-Common Mark Dreyfus accepted the 57-year-old’s extradition in December, however his attorneys argued in court docket on Thursday there had been authorized flaws within the extradition course of.
Dreyfus was changed as legal professional basic in Could by Michelle Rowland, who has not reviewed her predecessor’s resolution to ship Boston-born Duggan again to the US.
“The federal government notes the proceedings within the Federal Courtroom in the present day relating to Mr Duggan,” Rowland’s workplace mentioned in an announcement, including that additional remark was not applicable as a result of the case stays in court docket.
Duggan’s spouse and mom of his six kids, Saffrine Duggan, instructed supporters exterior the court docket on Thursday that Rowland “might set Dan free at any time”.
“He’s getting used as a pawn in an ideological battle between america and China and the Australian authorities businesses have allowed this to occur and are prepared individuals,” Saffrine Duggan mentioned. “My husband broke no Australian regulation and he was an Australian citizen when the alleged pilot coaching occurred.”
Daniel Duggan’s lawyer, Christopher Parkin, instructed the court docket it was “extraordinary” that somebody could possibly be extradited from Australia, accused of breaking US legal guidelines, for an motion in South Africa.
Duggan served within the US Marines for 12 years earlier than migrating to Australia in 2002. He gained Australian citizenship in January 2012, giving up his US citizenship within the course of.
