Australia’s most-decorated living soldier has been arrested and will be charged over allegations he committed war crimes in Afghanistan, according to local media.
Ben Roberts-Smith – who left the defence force in 2013 – was detained at Sydney airport and is due to face court on Tuesday over five counts of war crimes murder.
A defamation judgement in 2023 found the former Special Air Service corporal and Victoria Cross recipient had killed several unarmed Afghans.
The 47-year-old denies all wrongdoing, however, and has previously said the allegations against him are “egregious” and “spiteful”.
In 2020, a landmark investigation known as the Brereton Report found “credible evidence” that elite Australian soldiers unlawfully killed 39 people in Afghanistan, recommending 19 current or former soldiers be investigated.
Roberts-Smith’s civil trial was the first time in history any court has assessed claims of war crimes by Australian forces.
He argued the alleged killings occurred legally during combat or did not happen at all, and last year lost an appeal against the finding.
In a press conference on Tuesday, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) confirmed a 47-year-old former soldier had been arrested and said he would be charged with shooting dead unarmed detainees while serving in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.
“The alleged conduct related to these charges is confined to a very small section of our trusted and respected ADF (Australian Defence Force) which keeps our country safe,” Commissioner Krissy Barrett said.
“The majority of the ADF do our country proud.”
By BBC News
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