MELBOURNE: Former US Marine Corps pilot Daniel Duggan on Thursday (Oct 16) appealed his extradition from Australia to the USA over allegations that he illegally skilled Chinese language army aviators greater than a decade in the past.
Duggan is accused of coaching Chinese language army pilots whereas working as an teacher for the Check Flying Academy of South Africa in 2012.
He appeared on the courtroom 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 army pilots in 2010 and 2012, and probably different occasions, with out making use of for an acceptable 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 improvement coaching”.
Duggan has denied the allegations, saying they have 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 authorized the 57-year-old’s extradition in December, however his legal professionals argued in courtroom on Thursday there had been authorized flaws within the extradition course of.
Dreyfus was changed as legal professional normal in Might 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 at present concerning Mr Duggan,” Rowland’s workplace stated in a press release, including that additional remark was not acceptable as a result of the case stays in courtroom.
Duggan’s spouse and mom of his six youngsters, Saffrine Duggan, advised supporters outdoors the courtroom on Thursday that Rowland “may set Dan free at any time”.
“He’s getting used as a pawn in an ideological struggle between the USA and China and the Australian authorities companies have allowed this to occur and are prepared individuals,” Saffrine Duggan stated. “My husband broke no Australian legislation and he was an Australian citizen when the alleged pilot coaching occurred.”
Daniel Duggan’s lawyer, Christopher Parkin, advised the courtroom it was “extraordinary” that somebody may very well 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.
