Ex-US Marine Daniel Duggan, who labored in China, was arrested in the identical week the UK warned about Beijing’s recruitment of army pilot trainers.
A former US fighter pilot detained in Australia underneath a veil of secrecy will “vigorously” struggle efforts to have him extradited to america, his lawyer has stated.
The pilot, Daniel Edmund Duggan, 54, was arrested in a rural a part of New South Wales state in October by Australian Federal Police performing on a US request for his arrest.
Duggan had arrived in Australia from China weeks earlier than and had interacted with Australian intelligence companies, his lawyer stated on Friday. Particulars of the US arrest warrant and the fees he faces are sealed, his lawyer stated.
Duggan’s arrest on October 21 got here the identical week the UK authorities issued a uncommon warning about China’s recruitment of retired British army pilots.
The Australian authorities confirmed Duggan was arrested at Washington’s request, though US authorities have refused to say extra and the fees stay unknown.
“He denies having breached any US legislation, any Australian legislation, any worldwide legislation,” his lawyer, Dennis Miralis stated exterior a Sydney courtroom on Friday.
Duggan shall be moved to a most safety jail, and didn’t search bail, his lawyer stated. The case was adjourned till November 28.
Miralis had instructed the courtroom he would lodge a grievance with Australia’s inspector-general of intelligence about issues which contact on Australia’s nationwide safety.
Australia’s Legal professional Basic’s Division stated Duggan’s acknowledged intention to make a grievance was a matter for him. The Inspector-Basic of Intelligence and Safety (IGIS), an impartial oversight workplace, declined to remark.
Exterior courtroom, Miralis instructed media that Duggan, who’s now an Australian citizen, had returned from China “a number of weeks previous to his arrest and within the intervening interval various interactions occurred with these companies that the inspector-general of intelligence has the capability to research”.
Miralis didn’t title the particular companies, present particulars on what was underneath investigation or Duggan’s alleged function in it.
He stated the US shouldn’t make an extradition request to Australia till this grievance was resolved.
Beneath Australia’s extradition treaty with the US, an extradition request have to be made inside 60 days of arrest.
“Mr Duggan in the meanwhile will not be accused of something underneath Australian legislation. It’s vital to grasp the authorized system in Australia has not but seized jurisdiction of the matter, we’re extra within the space of worldwide relations, and it’s a choice for america State Division to find out whether or not or not it needs to ship an extradition request to Australia,” Miralis stated.
Duggan would individually complain that China had interfered along with his human rights and freedom of motion in China, he added.
Duggan is a “well-regarded” fighter jet pilot, a fellow ex-Marine instructed Agence France-Presse, and had just lately labored in China coaching industrial flight crew.
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 in about 2014, firm information present.
China’s overseas ministry has denied any information of the employment of British pilots after media within the UK reported greater than 30 pilots had accepted profitable gives to coach China’s army.