Australia’s most decorated living soldier, Ben Roberts-Smith, was arrested at Sydney airport on Tuesday and slapped with with five counts of war crime charges. On Wednesday, he is scheduled to appear in court and is expected to seek bail.
Roberts-Smith was accused of killing five unarmed Afghans while serving in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012, according to reports.
"It will be alleged the victims were not taking part in hostilities at the time of their alleged murder in Afghanistan," Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Krissy Barrett told a press conference. "It will be alleged the victims were detained, unarmed and were under the control of ADF members when they were killed."
Who is Ben Roberts-Smith?
Ben Roberts-Smith, 47, is a former Special Air Service (SAS) corporal. He was awarded both the Victoria Cross and the Medal of Gallantry for his service. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment for each charge.
The five alleged murders happened during three separate incidents. In all cases, Afghan nationals were allegedly shot dead by Roberts-Smith, or a subordinate in his presence, according to authorities.
The first incident involves deaths of two Afghan men in Kakarak in 2009 while the second one involved an Afghan man identified as Ali Jan in Darwan in 2012. The third incident pertains to killing of two people in Syahchow in 2012.
In the past, Roberts-Smith sued three newspapers over allegations that he committed war crimes, murdered unarmed civilians and bullied fellow soldiers.
The only other Australian war veteran to be charged with war crimes was former SAS soldier Oliver Schulz. He was accused of fatally shooting an Afghan man three times in the head in Uruzgan province in May 2012. He has pleaded not guilty to the war crime murder charge.