Ex US Marine, going through extradition, might have been ‘lured’ from China earlier than arrest, says lawyer

Daniel Duggan, 54, is going through extradition to the United States on expenses of breaking US legislation by coaching Chinese navy pilots to land on plane carriers. He was arrested by Australian federal police in a rural city in New South Wales state in October.

New Delhi,UPDATED: Mar 20, 2023 08:33 IST

Dennis Miralis, lawyer for former U.S. navy pilot Daniel Duggan, who was arrested in Australia on undisclosed expenses on the request of the United States, speaks to media outdoors a court docket in Sydney, Australia (Photo: Reuters/File)

By Reuters: A former U.S. Marine Corps pilot might have been “lured” from China to Australia by safety companies earlier than his arrest, his lawyer mentioned outdoors court docket on Monday after an extradition listening to in Sydney.

Daniel Duggan, 54, is going through extradition to the United States on expenses of breaking U.S. legislation by coaching Chinese navy pilots to land on plane carriers.

He was arrested by Australian federal police in a rural city in New South Wales state in October, shortly after getting back from China, the place he had lived since 2014.

In the identical week, Britain had issued a warning to its former defence employees to not practice Chinese People’s Liberation Army pilots at a South African flying academy the place Duggan had additionally labored.

On Monday, Duggan’s extradition case was adjourned till May, as his legal professionals search entry to paperwork from Australian authorities companies for his defence.

Outside court docket, Duggan’s lawyer Dennis Miralis mentioned the pilot had been given a safety clearance by the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation to start out a brand new aviation job earlier than he returned from China, however an arrest warrant was issued whereas he was on the aircraft dwelling and his safety clearance was revoked.

He mentioned such a “lure” was authorized beneath U.S. legislation, however it might be “a matter of grave significance” if Australian safety companies had given Duggan a safety clearance to supply “a false sense that he would be able to return to Australia”.

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“We are exploring at this stage whether or not he was lured back to Australia by the U.S., where the U.S. knew he would be in a jurisdiction where he would be capable of being extradited,” he added.

ASIO didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Duggan, who’s being held in a maximum-security jail, is an Australian citizen who renounced his U.S. citizenship. Before shifting to China in 2014, he had lived in Australia for a decade and has six youngsters in Australia.

Miralis mentioned Duggan was involved that political tensions between the U.S. and China had been affecting his case.

In a press release launched to media, Duggan mentioned he rejected the allegations towards him.

“The insinuation that I am some sort of spy is an outrage,” he mentioned within the assertion.

Britain’s air pressure chief mentioned this month intelligence companies in Australia and Britain had shared info to warn pilots towards working for Beijing.

Australian police are investigating a former British navy pilot suspected of involvement within the coaching of Chinese navy pilots at a flying college in South Africa, a Sydney court docket was informed on Friday.

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Published On:

Mar 20, 2023