Marine vet who allegedly trained Chinese pilots to be extradited to US

NEWCASTLE, Australia — U.S. Marine Corps veteran Daniel Duggan will likely be extradited from Australia to america over allegations that he illegally skilled Chinese language aviators.

Australia’s Lawyer Basic Mark Dreyfus authorised the extradition on Monday, ending the Boston-born 55-year-old’s almost two-year try and keep away from being returned to the U.S.

Duggan, who served within the Marines for 12 years earlier than immigrating to Australia and giving up his U.S. citizenship, has been in a maximum-security jail since he was arrested in 2022 at his household residence within the state of New South Wales. He’s the daddy of six youngsters.

Dreyfus confirmed in an announcement on Monday he had authorised the extradition however didn’t say when Duggan can be transferred to the U.S.

“Duggan was given the chance to supply representations as to why he shouldn’t be surrendered to america. In arriving at my determination, I took into consideration all materials in entrance of me,” Dreyfus stated within the assertion.

In Might, a Sydney choose dominated Duggan may very well be extradited to the U.S., leaving an enchantment to the legal professional common as Duggan’s final hope of remaining in Australia.

In a 2016 indictment from the U.S. District Courtroom in Washington, D.C., unsealed in late 2022, prosecutors stated Duggan conspired with others to supply coaching to Chinese language army pilots in 2010 and 2012, and probably at different occasions, with out making use of for an acceptable license.

Prosecutors say he acquired funds totaling round 88,000 Australian {dollars} ($61,000) and worldwide journey from one other conspirator for what was generally described as “private improvement coaching.”

If convicted, Duggan faces as much as 60 years in jail. He denies the allegations.

“We really feel deserted by the Australian authorities and deeply dissatisfied that they’ve fully failed of their responsibility to guard an Australian household,” his spouse, Saffrine Duggan, stated in an announcement on Monday. “We are actually contemplating our choices.”