The spouse of a former US fighter pilot claims he has been locked up in “inhumane circumstances” as he fights extradition to the USA to face allegations he aided the Chinese language army.
Saffrine Duggan mentioned her husband Daniel Duggan had already been saved 115 days in a “tiny cell” in Sydney’s Silverwater jail primarily based on US expenses that had but to be examined in courtroom.
“He’s struggling the harshest attainable jail classification in Australia as an ‘excessive excessive danger restricted inmate’ regardless of having no prior (or present) convictions,” she mentioned in an announcement.
“That is unprecedented and an affront to Australia’s rule of regulation and manipulation of the Australian authorized system by the USA, on the expense of the Australian taxpayer.”
Already submitting a criticism with the Inspector-Common of Intelligence and Safety, Mrs Duggan mentioned an additional criticism can be filed with the United Nations Human Rights Committee.
“The style and circumstances behind this prosecution of Dan are one thing you’ll anticipate finding in an authoritarian nation, however not in a democratic Australia the place its residents count on a extra truthful and balanced equal utility of the regulation and the overriding precept of a ‘truthful go’ for all,” she mentioned.
Duggan, 54, was arrested in October final yr close to his household dwelling in Orange, central west NSW, and accused of offering army coaching to pilots working for China.
He has denied the allegations introduced towards him, saying they had been “political” posturing by the US which unfairly singled him out.
Mrs Duggan mentioned the treaty beneath which the FBI had tried to extradite her husband was not getting used correctly.
“The treaty particularly states that alleged crimes beneath its provisions shouldn’t be of a ‘political character’, ought to require twin criminality – which isn’t the case on this occasion – and ought to be in Australia’s nationwide pursuits,” she mentioned.
The case is continuing by the Native Courts the place a Justice of the Peace will resolve whether or not Duggan is eligible for extradition. It should then be as much as Lawyer-Common Mark Dreyfus to make the ultimate name.
Born in Boston, Duggan served within the US Marines for 12 years earlier than immigrating to Australia in 2002. In January 2012, he gained Australian citizenship, selecting to surrender his US citizenship within the course of.
The matter will subsequent come earlier than Downing Heart Native Court docket on March 20.
