Unique: Former U.S. army pilot who labored in China arrested in Australia, faces extradition

SYDNEY, October 25 (Reuters) – A former US army pilot and flight teacher working in China has been arrested in Australia and faces extradition to america, paperwork Australian courts and firm data present.

Australian Federal Police arrested Daniel Edmund Duggan, 54, on Friday within the rural city of Orange in New South Wales, and he appeared in court docket the identical day, court docket data present and two sources stated. and his legal professional confirmed.

His lawyer appeared through videoconference, and Duggan was denied bail and despatched to close by Bathurst jail, two of the sources stated.

Duggan is a former US citizen and federal police are following US requests to arrest him earlier than formal extradition proceedings, one of many police sources stated.

Duggan’s subsequent court docket look shall be in Sydney in November to evaluation any bail purposes. Particulars of the US arrest warrant and the fees he faces are sealed.

“A person was arrested on October 21, 2022 on the request of america for provisional arrest,” a spokesman for the federal Legal professional Common’s Workplace stated in a written assertion to Reuters. . “Because the matter is earlier than the court docket, it could not be acceptable to remark additional.”

The arrest got here the identical week Britain warned dozens of former army pilots to cease working in China or face prosecution on nationwide safety grounds below the brand new regulation. Australia can also be investigating reviews that a few of its former fighter pilots have been approached to work in China. learn extra

An aviation supply instructed Reuters the FBI was on the lookout for Duggan due to his work in China. His legal professional, Dennis Miralis of Nyman, Gibson and Miralis, stated he couldn’t remark.

Duggan moved to Australia after a decade within the US army and began a enterprise referred to as Prime Gun Tasmania, hiring former US and British army pilots to offer vacationers with fighter jet excursions. , firm profiles and confirmed airline sources.

Duggan has additionally flown previous army plane at Australian air exhibits, the three pilots instructed Reuters.

The Prime Gun Tasmania web site says Duggan has flown a Harrier soar jet within the US Marines and is an air fight teacher.

He moved to Beijing in 2014 and shortly after promoting Prime Gun Tasmania, utilized in Australia for the corporate’s program.

Duggan’s LinkedIn profile says he has labored in Qingdao, China since 2017 because the chief government officer of AVIBIZ Restricted, described as “a complete aviation consulting agency centered on the trade.” China’s aviation is growing quickly and dynamically.”

Hong Kong firm data present AVIBIZ Restricted was registered there by Australian passport holder Daniel Edmund Duggan in 2017 and dissolved in 2020.

Duggan couldn’t be reached instantly for remark.

Below Australia’s extradition treaty with the US, the US authorities may have 60 days to make an extradition request. The treaty permits Australian residents to be extradited.

Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney; Extra reporting by Jamie Freed in Sydney and Greg Torode in Hong Kong. Edited by Gerry Doyle

Our Requirements: Thomson Reuters Belief Rules.