Australia's most-decorated living soldier has been charged over allegations he committed war crimes in Afghanistan. Ben Roberts-Smith was arrested at Sydney airport on Tuesday and is facing five counts of murder. Following a night in custody, he will appear in court for a bail hearing. Previously, a 2023 defamation ruling found that Roberts-Smith had unlawfully killed several unarmed Afghans.
The 47-year-old denies the allegations, describing them as 'egregious' and 'spiteful.' His civil trial was historic as it marked the first time a court evaluated claims of war crimes committed by Australian forces. Roberts-Smith contends that the alleged killings were either legally sanctioned in combat or did not occur at all, and he lost an appeal against the Federal Court's findings last year.
During a press conference, the Australian Federal Police confirmed that he would be charged in relation to the murder of unarmed detainees between 2009 and 2012. Roberts-Smith faces charges including one count of murder, one of jointly commissioning a murder, and three counts of aiding or abetting murder. Commissioner Krissy Barrett stated that these charges allege that the victims were intentionally shot under Roberts-Smith's orders.
The arrest follows recommendations made by the 2020 Brereton Report, which found credible evidence of unlawful killings by elite Australian troops in Afghanistan and suggested investigating 19 current or former members of the Australian Defence Force. While a specialized investigation unit was created to handle these inquiries, only one other soldier has been charged to date.
According to Ross Barnett from the Office of the Special Investigator, Roberts-Smith's arrest represents significant progress amid challenging circumstances, given the complexities of gathering evidence across such a distance. He emphasized the difficulty in obtaining vital investigative resources like photographs or crime scene access. Barrett assured that most of the ADF acts honorably, emphasizing that allegations of misconduct are limited to a small section of its members.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has refrained from commenting on the ongoing case, stressing the importance of keeping political discourse separate from legal proceedings. In light of the renewed allegations, the Australian War Memorial will reassess its exhibit dedicated to Roberts-Smith, whose prior image as a national hero has been marred by these serious accusations. Notably, he was previously awarded Australia's highest military honor for his actions against Taliban fighters.
Roberts-Smith's lengthy and costly legal challenges to defend his name have been characterized as 'Australia's trial of the century.' Ultimately, a Federal Court ruling confirmed his involvement in at least four unlawful killings, stating he ordered unarmed captive individuals to be shot dead to initiate combat experiences for rookies.
The 47-year-old denies the allegations, describing them as 'egregious' and 'spiteful.' His civil trial was historic as it marked the first time a court evaluated claims of war crimes committed by Australian forces. Roberts-Smith contends that the alleged killings were either legally sanctioned in combat or did not occur at all, and he lost an appeal against the Federal Court's findings last year.
During a press conference, the Australian Federal Police confirmed that he would be charged in relation to the murder of unarmed detainees between 2009 and 2012. Roberts-Smith faces charges including one count of murder, one of jointly commissioning a murder, and three counts of aiding or abetting murder. Commissioner Krissy Barrett stated that these charges allege that the victims were intentionally shot under Roberts-Smith's orders.
The arrest follows recommendations made by the 2020 Brereton Report, which found credible evidence of unlawful killings by elite Australian troops in Afghanistan and suggested investigating 19 current or former members of the Australian Defence Force. While a specialized investigation unit was created to handle these inquiries, only one other soldier has been charged to date.
According to Ross Barnett from the Office of the Special Investigator, Roberts-Smith's arrest represents significant progress amid challenging circumstances, given the complexities of gathering evidence across such a distance. He emphasized the difficulty in obtaining vital investigative resources like photographs or crime scene access. Barrett assured that most of the ADF acts honorably, emphasizing that allegations of misconduct are limited to a small section of its members.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has refrained from commenting on the ongoing case, stressing the importance of keeping political discourse separate from legal proceedings. In light of the renewed allegations, the Australian War Memorial will reassess its exhibit dedicated to Roberts-Smith, whose prior image as a national hero has been marred by these serious accusations. Notably, he was previously awarded Australia's highest military honor for his actions against Taliban fighters.
Roberts-Smith's lengthy and costly legal challenges to defend his name have been characterized as 'Australia's trial of the century.' Ultimately, a Federal Court ruling confirmed his involvement in at least four unlawful killings, stating he ordered unarmed captive individuals to be shot dead to initiate combat experiences for rookies.
