A former US fighter pilot detained in Australia beneath a veil of secrecy will “vigorously” struggle his extradition to the US and is in search of the intervention of an intelligence watchdog, his lawyer says.
The ex-marine Daniel Edmund Duggan, who’s now an Australian citizen, was arrested in New South Wales on 21 October – the identical week the British authorities issued a uncommon warning about China’s recruitment of retired navy pilots.
The Australian authorities confirmed Duggan, 54, was arrested at Washington’s request, though US authorities have refused to say extra and the fees stay sealed.
Duggan was a “well-regarded” fighter jet pilot, a fellow ex-marine instructed AFP newswire, and had just lately labored in China coaching industrial flight crew.
Defence lawyer Dennis Miralis stated he would file a grievance concerning the conduct of Australian intelligence officers throughout Duggan’s arrest. Miralis stated on Friday that Duggan’s extradition must be placed on maintain till that grievance was resolved by Australia’s intelligence watchdog.
“We can be submitting a grievance with the Inspector-Normal of Intelligence and Safety, who offers with complaints in opposition to nationwide safety officers,” Miralis instructed reporters. “Mr Duggan is an Australian citizen. We ask the US to not intrude.”
Miralis, talking exterior Sydney native courtroom after a quick administrative listening to, didn’t elaborate on what the grievance would possibly cowl.
He criticised the US authorities’s strategy to Duggan’s arrest, saying he nonetheless didn’t know a lot concerning the fees.
“There isn’t a factual materials that has been offered supporting the best way he was indicted secretly within the US,” he stated.
Duggan, a father of six, had just lately returned from China when he was arrested within the rural city of Orange, about 4 hours’ drive west of Sydney. Miralis stated Duggan was a “proud Australian” and not held US citizenship.
“He denies breaching any US regulation, any Australian regulation, and any worldwide regulation,” Miralis stated. “This can be a place he’ll defend vigorously.”
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 round 2014, firm data present.
Following a report in October that Australians might be amongst a cohort of about 30 western pilots China tried to recruit, Australia’s defence minister, Richard Marles, stated in an announcement: “When our ADF personnel signal as much as the defence drive, they accomplish that to serve their nation and we’re deeply grateful of that.”
“I’d be deeply shocked and disturbed to listen to that there have been personnel who have been being lured by a paycheck from a international state above serving their very own nation,” Marles stated on the time.
“I’ve requested the division to analyze these claims and are available again to my workplace with clear recommendation on this matter.”
‘Dramatic and aggressive’
Miralis stated he had additionally launched a separate grievance about Duggan’s therapy in jail.
He alleged a jail officer “instantly intervened” throughout a legally protected dialog between Duggan and his legal professionals.
Miralis stated Duggan would quickly be moved to a maximum-security facility in NSW.
“We’re involved by this dramatic and aggressive transfer,” the lawyer stated. “He’s holding up in addition to you might anticipate in these extraordinary circumstances.”
Each the British and Australian governments have just lately highlighted fears that Beijing has been poaching retired pilots to coach China’s air drive.
China’s international ministry has denied any information of the employment of British pilots after British media reported greater than 30 pilots had accepted profitable gives to coach China’s navy.
Duggan’s case is scheduled to return to courtroom in late November.
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