Daniel Duggan, a former US fighter pilot and Australian citizen, faces extradition to the United States after Australian Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus approved the transfer. Duggan, 56, has been alleged to have illegally aided the Chinese military by training their personnel during his time stationed in South Africa, raising serious national security concerns.
After two years imprisoned on these allegations, Duggan's family expressed devastation over the decision, which they called 'callous and inhumane,' particularly as it came just before Christmas. His wife, Saffrine Duggan, stated, 'We feel abandoned by the Australian Government and deeply disappointed.' The Duggan family is considering their legal options, potentially seeking specifics about the government's decision.
The extradition process has been turbulent for the family, who have struggled to explain the situation to their six children. 'It is very difficult to explain to the children why this is happening to their father, especially now, at this time of year,' Saffrine added.
According to Dreyfus, Duggan was arrested at the request of US authorities after being accused of providing military training to Chinese pilots, reportedly receiving about $100,000 for his services between 2010 and 2012. The attorney-general stated, 'On 19 December 2024, I determined under section 22 of the Extradition Act 1988 (Cth) to extradite Daniel Duggan to the United States to face prosecution.'
While Duggan's family struggles with the emotional strain of the situation, significant questions remain. The Australian government has not provided clear evidence justifying Duggan's extradition, and his wife has openly criticized the government for not shielding their family from what she deems to be unjust prosecution.
Molly Duggan, one of the couple's children, expressed deep sadness and fear about her father's future, sharing her concern during an interview with 60 Minutes. 'I probably won't have my dad back again,' she said, emphasizing the detrimental impact of nearly 19 months spent under maximum security conditions. 'Can you even begin to understand what he is enduring?' She conveyed worries about the lasting effects of his imprisonment, asserting, 'He's been isolated for so long. He's not going to be the same person when he returns.'
With Duggan maintaining his innocence, claiming he only trained civilian pilots using publicly accessible resources, the family highlights the struggle against what they believe amounts to sacrificing an Australian citizen to foreign judicial systems. Saffrine expressed the family’s sentiments poignantly: 'It means we lose their father, and that's completely unbelievable for Australia to allow this.'
If found guilty of the charges leveled against him, Duggan faces the possibility of 60 years in prison, adding pressure on the family and mounting their fears about the consequences of his extradition.
Despite the complexity and gravity of the situation, the Australian government has remained tight-lipped about the specific reasons behind their decision to extradite Duggan, with Dreyfus confirming only, 'I took all material available to me under consideration.'
The Duggan family stands at the center of this emotional saga, caught between the allegations against their father and the potential ramifications of his extradition, hoping for clarity and justice from both the Australian and American legal systems.
