The extradition hearing of a former U.S. military pilot has been postponed by the Sydney court until May.

The extradition hearing for a former U.S. military pilot, who is accused of unlawfully training Chinese aviators, has been delayed by a Sydney court until May. This postponement allows the pilot’s lawyers more time to strengthen their defense.

Boston-born Dan Duggan, 55, was scheduled to fight his extradition to the United States at a Nov. 23 hearing in the downtown Downing Center Local Court.

However, a judge determined that the mentioned date would be used to decide the extent of information that the Australian defense department and security agencies must provide to defense lawyers.

The United States lawyer, Trent Glover, informed the court that they were prepared to move forward with the extradition process. However, it was mutually decided with the defense attorneys that the hearing should be scheduled for a date after November.

Dennis Miralis, the lawyer representing Duggan, informed journalists outside the courtroom that the consequences were significant for his client. If found guilty, Duggan could potentially be sentenced to a maximum of 65 years in prison.

Miralis emphasized the significance of this situation, stating that each of Dan’s rights granted by the Australian legal system, based on the presumption of innocence, must be thoroughly and attentively evaluated.

Saffrine, Duggan’s spouse, has expressed her request for Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to speak out against the extradition during his upcoming meeting with President Joe Biden in Washington.

However, during a press briefing on Sunday prior to his departure for the United States, Albanese stated that Duggan, who obtained Australian citizenship in 2012, was not a topic of discussion in his meetings with U.S. officials.

“I refrain from engaging in discussions regarding legal matters while on the move, and I believe others should do the same,” Albanese informed journalists.

Duggan has been in custody since Oct. 21 last year when he was arrested near his home in Orange, New South Wales.

Duggan is resisting extradition based on his argument that the prosecution is politically motivated and that the alleged crime is not recognized as an offense under Australian law. The extradition treaty between the two nations specifies that extradition can only occur for offenses that are acknowledged as crimes by both countries.

Duggan’s legal team anticipates that further evidence will reveal the explicitly political nature of the extradition appeal.

They claim the former U.S. Marine Corps flying instructor was lured by Australian authorities from China in 2022 so he could be arrested and extradited.

Duggan asserts his innocence and claims to be a victim caught in an escalating power struggle between Washington and Beijing.

In a 2016 legal accusation, prosecutors claim that Duggan collaborated with others to offer instruction to Chinese military aviators in 2010 and 2012, and potentially on other occasions, without obtaining the necessary authorization.

According to prosecutors, Duggan was given approximately nine payments amounting to around 88,000 Australian dollars ($61,000) and was also provided with international travel by another individual involved in the conspiracy. These payments and travel arrangements were often referred to as “personal development training.”

Duggan stated that the pilots he instructed during his tenure at the Test Flying Academy of South Africa in 2011 and 2012 were non-military individuals from China, and the knowledge he imparted was not confidential.