Prosecution of Daniel Duggan

Daniel Duggan (1969) is a former U.S. marine pilot. He is currently an Australian citizen, and was arrested in October 2022 at the request of the U.S. government seeking his extradition based on charges of arms trafficking and money laundering. The U.S. government has accused him of training Chinese fighter pilots to land fighter jets on aircraft carriers and laundering money.[1] Duggan has denied the charges.[2]

Daniel Duggan
Born1969 (age 53–54)
CitizenshipAustralian
OccupationRetired U.S. air force pilot
SpouseSaffrine Duggan
Children6 school-aged children

Prosecution

Arrest and detention

Daniel Duggan has been categorized as an Extreme High-Risk Restricted (EHRR) and Protection Non-Association (PRNA) prisoner, although according to the Guardian he has never been convicted of a crime anywhere in the world.[3] He is being held in a two-by-four-meter cell at Silverwater, west of Sydney. In a complaint filed with the United Nations human rights committee, Saffrine Duggan has filed a complaint with the United Nations human rights committee, stating that her husband's segregated, maximum security detention is unjustified and creating "serious psychological distress" to him.[3] Duggan is being held in a two-by-four-meter cell.[4] According to the complaint, a clinical psychologist who evaluated Duggan in prison characterized his confinement circumstances as "extreme" and "inhumane" and said that despite having never suffered from mental health issues before, he was now at risk of developing a serious depressive disorder.[3] Another issue bothering him is benign prostatic hyperplasia.[4] The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security in Australia has started a formal inquiry into Daniel Duggan's detention, following a preliminary investigation into the complaint by Duggan over the legality of his incarceration.[2]

Extradition

Duggan's attorneys are looking into if the U.S. "lured" him back to Australia with the help of Australian security services to extradite him.[5][1] Duggan's lawyer, Dennis Miralis, stated that ASIO gave his client a security clearance to acquire an aviation license in 2022, shortly before returning from China. That security clearance was revoked a few days after he arrived in Australia.[6] Daniel Duggan stated from prison that he risks "gross injustice" and a "cruelly long sentence" if extradited to the U.S., cautioning Australia against caving into the requests of "powerful countries."[7] Duggan believes he will not receive a fair trial in America, where he risks up to 60 years in jail on charges related to training Chinese pilots.[1]

References
  1. Doherty, Ben (20 March 2023). "Legal team fears pilot Daniel Duggan cannot be assured of fair trial in U.S. amid China tensions". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  2. Doherty, Ben (2023-03-25). "Daniel Duggan: investigation launched into imprisonment of Australian accused of training Chinese pilots". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
  3. Doherty, Ben (25 February 2023). "Clinical psychologist warns Daniel Duggan's detention conditions 'extreme and 'inhumane' as wife launches U.N. complaint". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  4. Kampmark, Binoy (2023-03-05). "Doing Washington's bidding: Australia's treatment of Daniel Duggan". Green Left. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
  5. McKinnell, Jamie (20 March 2023). "Lawyers investigating if pilot accused of training Chinese military was 'lured back' by U.S. authorities". ABC News. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  6. Doran, Matthew (2023-03-25). "Watchdog investigating claims US authorities lured former pilot back to Australia". ABC News. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
  7. Doherty, Ben (4 March 2023). "Daniel Duggan says he faces 'gross injustice' if extradited to U.S. in speech from Sydney prison". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
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