On this undated photograph supplied through Saffrine Duggan her husband Daniel Duggan poses for a photograph at an unknown location in Australia.
Saffrine Duggan/Saffrine Duggan by the use of AP
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Saffrine Duggan/Saffrine Duggan by the use of AP
MELBOURNE, Australia — Former U.S. Marine Corps pilot Daniel Duggan on Thursday appealed his extradition from Australia to america 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 date running as an teacher for the Take a look at Aviation Academy of South Africa in 2012.
He seemed on the court docket in Canberra to document the enchantment along with his legal professional nearest touring 350 kilometers (218 miles) from a jail in Wellington, Untouched South Wales situation.
Australian Federal Court docket Justice James Stellios will announce a verdict on a year but to be eager following a one-day listening to within the nationwide capital Canberra.
A 2016 indictment from the U.S. District Court docket in Washington which used to be unsealed in overdue 2022, alleges Duggan conspired with others to handover coaching to Chinese language army pilots in 2010 and 2012, and most likely alternative instances, with out making use of for an acceptable license.
Prosecutors allege Duggan gained about 9 bills totaling round 88,000 Australian bucks ($61,000) from some other conspirator in addition to move to the U.S., South Africa and China for what used to be every now and then described as “personal development training.”
Duggan has denied the allegations, announcing they had been political posturing through the U.S., which unfairly singled him out. He has been held in most safety prisons since he used to be arrested in 2022 at a grocery store alike his society house in Untouched South Wales.
Australia’s after Lawyer-Normal Mark Dreyfus authorized the 57-year-old’s extradition in December, however his attorneys argued in court docket Thursday there have been criminal flaws within the extradition procedure.
Dreyfus used to be changed as legal professional normal in Would possibly through Michelle Rowland, who has no longer reviewed her predecessor’s resolution to ship Boston-born Duggan again to the U.S.”
The government notes the proceedings in the Federal Court today regarding Mr. Duggan,” Rowland’s administrative center mentioned in a commentary, including that additional remark used to be no longer suitable for the reason that case residue in court docket.
Duggan’s spouse and mom of his six youngsters, Saffrine Duggan, advised supporters outdoor the court docket Thursday that Rowland “could set Dan free at any time.”
“He is being used as a pawn in an ideological war between the United States and China and the Australian government agencies have allowed this to happen and are willing participants,” Saffrine Duggan mentioned.
“My husband broke no Australian law and he was an Australian citizen when the alleged pilot training occurred.”
Daniel Duggan’s attorney, Christopher Parkin, advised the court docket it used to be “extraordinary” that anyone may well be extradited from Australia, accused of breaking U.S. rules, for an motion in South Africa.
Duggan served within the U.S. Marines for 12 years earlier than migrating to Australia in 2002. He received Australian citizenship in January 2012, give up his U.S. citizenship within the procedure.
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