Ex-US fighter pilot held in Australia battles to stop extradition

Ex-US Marine Daniel Duggan, who labored in China, was arrested in the identical week the UK warned about Beijing’s recruitment of army pilot trainers.

The Australian and American flags are displayed on the desk throughout a gathering between Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and Minister for Defence Richard Marles on the Pentagon, in July 2022 [File: Alex Brandon/AP]

A former US fighter pilot detained in Australia below a veil of secrecy will “vigorously” struggle efforts to have him extradited to the US, his lawyer has mentioned.

The pilot, Daniel Edmund Duggan, 54, was arrested in a rural a part of New South Wales state in October by Australian Federal Police appearing on a US request for his arrest.

Duggan had arrived in Australia from China weeks earlier than and had interacted with Australian intelligence businesses, his lawyer mentioned on Friday. Particulars of the US arrest warrant and the costs he faces are sealed, his lawyer mentioned.

Duggan’s arrest on October 21 got here the identical week the UK authorities issued a uncommon warning about China’s recruitment of retired British army pilots.

The Australian authorities confirmed Duggan was arrested at Washington’s request, though US authorities have refused to say extra and the costs stay unknown.

“He denies having breached any US legislation, any Australian legislation, any worldwide legislation,” his lawyer, Dennis Miralis mentioned outdoors a Sydney courtroom on Friday.

Duggan will likely be moved to a most safety jail, and didn't search bail, his lawyer mentioned. The case was adjourned till November 28.

Miralis had instructed the courtroom he would lodge a grievance with Australia’s inspector-general of intelligence about issues which contact on Australia’s nationwide safety.

Australia’s Legal professional Normal’s Division mentioned Duggan’s said intention to make a grievance was a matter for him. The Inspector-Normal of Intelligence and Safety (IGIS), an impartial oversight workplace, declined to remark.

Exterior courtroom, Miralis instructed media that Duggan, who's now an Australian citizen, had returned from China “just a few weeks previous to his arrest and within the intervening interval quite a few interactions occurred with these businesses that the inspector-general of intelligence has the capability to research”.

Miralis didn't identify the particular businesses, present particulars on what was below investigation or Duggan’s alleged position in it.

He mentioned the US mustn't make an extradition request to Australia till this grievance was resolved.

Below Australia’s extradition treaty with the US, an extradition request should be made inside 60 days of arrest.

“Mr Duggan in the mean time is just not accused of something below Australian legislation. It’s necessary to know the authorized system in Australia has not but seized jurisdiction of the matter, we're extra within the space of worldwide relations, and it's a determination for the US State Division to find out whether or not or not it needs to ship an extradition request to Australia,” Miralis mentioned.

Duggan would individually complain that China had interfered together with his human rights and freedom of motion in China, he added.

Duggan is a “well-regarded” fighter jet pilot, a fellow ex-Marine instructed Agence France-Presse, and had lately labored in China coaching industrial flight crew.

Duggan’s firm web site says he spent greater than a decade flying within the US Marine Corps, reaching the rank of main and dealing as a tactical flight teacher.

He ran an journey flight firm in Australia after leaving the Marines, then moved to Beijing in about 2014, firm information present.

China’s overseas ministry has denied any information of the employment of British pilots after media within the UK reported greater than 30 pilots had accepted profitable presents to coach China’s army.