Former US Marine pilot accused of training Chinese aviators loses extradition appeal in Australia
An Australian choose on Thursday rejected an appeal by former US Marine Corps pilot Daniel Duggan to keep away from extradition to the United States over allegations that he illegally trained Chinese military aviators greater than a decade in the past.
Duggan is accused of training Chinese army pilots whereas working as an teacher for the Test Flying Academy of South Africa. Duggan has denied the allegations, contending that they had been politically posing and that the US was unfairly singling him out.
Federal Court Justice James Stellios dominated in dismissing the appeal that no jurisdiction error was made in 2024 by then Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus in ordering Duggan’s extradition.
Duggan’s spouse and mom of his six youngsters, Saffrine Duggan, instructed reporters outdoors the court docket in Canberra that his attorneys would think about an extra appeal. Lawyers are additionally asking Dreyfus’s successor as attorney-general, Michelle Rowland, to reverse the extradition order.
DAVID GRAY / AFP through Getty Images
“We are very disappointed by this ruling and we will consider our options carefully. But make no mistake, we will not give up,” Saffrine Duggan mentioned. “Today does not end our search for justice.”
Rowland’s workplace famous the court docket ruling and mentioned in an announcement Daniel Duggan would “remain in extradition custody in Australia until his surrender to the United States.”
A 2016 indictment from the US District Court in Washington, which was unsealed in late 2022, alleges Duggan conspired with others to offer training to Chinese army pilots in 2010 and 2012, and probably different occasions, with out making use of for an applicable license.
Warwick Ponder / Handout through REUTERS 
Prosecutors allege Duggan obtained about 9 funds totaling round 88,000 Australian {dollars} ($61,000) from one other conspirator in addition to journey to the US, South Africa and China for what was generally described as “personal development training.”
Duggan, who’s 57 and was born in Boston, has been held in most safety prisons since he was arrested in 2022 at a grocery store close to his household dwelling in New South Wales.
Duggan lived and labored in China for about 5 years earlier than his arrest, company data confirmed.
He served in 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 in the method.
