An Australian father who served as a US fighter pilot will face trial in the US after his extradition was approved by federal Attorney General Mark Dreyfus, as his devastated family says they have been ‘abandoned’ by the government.
Daniel Duggan, 56, has already spent two years behind bars over allegations that he unlawfully trained Chinese military personnel.
The father-of-six made a last-ditch effort to avoid prosecution in the US, sending an 89-page notice to Mr Dreyfus after a NSW magistrate ruled in May that he was eligible for extradition.
But on Monday, Mr Dreyfus confirmed he had given Duggan’s extradition the green light.
Duggan’s children were “very sad” about the decision, the family said.
“We are shocked and heartbroken by this callous and inhumane decision made just before Christmas without any explanation or justification from the government,” Duggan’s wife Saffrine said in a statement.
“We feel let down by the Australian government and are deeply disappointed that they have completely failed in their duty to protect an Australian family.”
She said they were now considering their legal options, including whether to ask about the specific reasons for the government’s decision to extradite him.
Daniel Duggan (pictured), 56, has already spent two years behind bars over allegations he unlawfully trained Chinese soldiers
Duggan’s family were ‘shocked and absolutely heartbroken by this callous and inhumane decision’ (Duggan is pictured with his wife Saffrine and their children)
“It’s very difficult to explain to the children why this is happening to their father, especially now, at this time of year,” Ms Duggan added.
Mr Dreyfus confirmed the extradition had been approved but would not reveal when Duggan would be transferred to the US, citing a long-standing government practice of not commenting on operational matters relating to extradition.
‘Recognizing the public interest in this matter, I confirm that on 19 December 2024 I determined under section 22 of the Extradition Act 1988 (Cth) that Daniel Duggan should be extradited to the United States to face charges for the offenses committed by him is accused,” he said in a statement.
“Mr. Duggan was given the opportunity to explain why he should not be extradited to the United States.
“In making my decision, I have considered all the material before me.”
Duggan was arrested in Australia in October 2022 at the behest of the US after he was accused of violating arms trafficking laws by providing military training to Chinese pilots in South Africa between 2010 and 2012.
He is said to have received approximately $100,000 for his services.
If convicted in the US, Duggan faces up to 60 years in prison.
Molly Duggan (left) previously said she doesn’t believe her father, Daniel Duggan (right), will ever be the same after spending 19 months in isolated captivity while extradited to the US.
Australia has no equivalent laws.
In May, Duggan’s daughter Molly told the story 60 minutes she fears the father she once knew has been taken after 19 months of isolated captivity at Lithgow Correctional Centre, 150 kilometers west of Sydney.
“I probably won’t get my dad back,” she told the program.
“He’s been in maximum security for so long.
‘Can you imagine being so isolated for so long?
“He won’t be the same person he was before they took him.”
She doesn’t believe her father is a criminal.
“I feel like our world has been torn apart and I want the trauma to stop,” Molly added.
Duggan claims he is completely innocent and that he only trained civilian pilots in South Africa with information available in online textbooks.
Mrs Duggan called on Australia to stand its ground and not rush her husband into an effective ‘death sentence’.
“It means my children losing their father, our family being torn apart over something that can be stopped,” she said.
“It’s absolutely unbelievable to think that Australia would do this.”