Australia’s most-decorated soldier arrested over alleged war crimes – local media

Australia’s Most Decorated Soldier Faces War Crimes Charges

Ben Roberts-Smith, the nation’s most decorated living veteran, has been apprehended and is set to face charges of war crimes in Afghanistan, as reported by local news outlets. The 47-year-old former Special Air Service member was detained at Sydney airport and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday for five counts of murder allegations. The accusations center around the killing of multiple unarmed Afghan civilians during his deployment.

A defamation ruling in 2023 concluded that Roberts-Smith, a Victoria Cross recipient, had slain several non-combatants. However, he steadfastly denies the claims, describing them as “egregious” and “spiteful” in previous statements. His legal battle has drawn significant attention, marking a historic moment as his civil trial was the first court assessment of war crimes committed by Australian military personnel.

The 2020 Brereton Report identified credible evidence of 39 unlawful deaths in Afghanistan, implicating elite soldiers and recommending investigations into 19 individuals. Despite this, Roberts-Smith maintained his defense, arguing the incidents occurred within legal combat parameters or were entirely fabricated. He recently lost an appeal against the findings, solidifying the case against him.

“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,” stated Commissioner Krissy Barrett during a Tuesday press conference. “The majority of the ADF do our country proud.”

The Australian Federal Police confirmed the arrest, specifying that the charges pertain to incidents between 2009 and 2012 when Roberts-Smith served in Afghanistan. His arrest underscores the ongoing scrutiny of military actions in the region, with legal proceedings now targeting the former soldier’s alleged role in the incidents.