One of Australia’s most decorated soldiers, Ben Roberts-Smith, has been arrested and charged with five counts of the war crime of murder over alleged conduct during his deployments in Afghanistan.
The 47-year-old Victoria Cross recipient was taken into custody at Sydney Airport after arriving from Brisbane and later charged by the Australian Federal Police. He has been refused bail and is expected to face court, with each charge carrying a potential life sentence.
ABC reports that authorities allege the incidents occurred between 2009 and 2012 and involved unarmed Afghan nationals. The case has not yet been tested in court and no criminal findings of guilt have been made.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declined to comment in detail to the ABC, stressing the importance of maintaining the independence of the legal process. “That is a matter that is now the subject of legal proceedings,” he said, adding that any public commentary could risk prejudicing the case.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott struck a more personal tone, expressing strong support for Australian special forces personnel who served in Afghanistan.
In a post on X, he described them as “loyal and professional” and cautioned against applying civilian standards to battlefield decisions. Abbott also raised concerns about the length of time taken to bring charges, arguing that “justice delayed is justice denied” and questioning why any alleged misconduct was not identified earlier.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said the legal process must be allowed to run its course, while reiterating that respect for Australia’s special forces should not be diminished.
One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson voiced support for Roberts-Smith, calling on Australians to stand by him during the proceedings.
The charges follow years of scrutiny stemming from the Brereton Report, a landmark inquiry into alleged misconduct by Australian special forces in Afghanistan.
Initiated in 2016 and released in 2020, the report identified credible information relating to unlawful killings and led to the establishment of the Office of the Special Investigator to pursue potential criminal cases.
Roberts-Smith had previously been the subject of a high-profile defamation case against media outlets, which concluded in 2023 with a Federal Court finding that certain allegations were proven on the civil standard of proof. He has consistently denied wrongdoing and has not been convicted of any criminal offence.
Authorities say the current charges are part of a broader and ongoing investigation into alleged war crimes, with dozens of matters examined and only a small number progressing to prosecution.
As per ABC, officials have emphasised that the allegations relate to a limited number of individuals and do not reflect the conduct of the wider Australian Defence Force.
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