Australia’s most decorated living soldier, Ben Roberts-Smith, has been arrested and charged with multiple alleged war crimes linked to incidents during the Afghanistan conflict, marking a major development in one of the country’s most closely watched military justice cases.
Australian Federal Police arrested the former Special Air Service (SAS) corporal at Sydney Airport and charged him with five counts of war crime murder relating to the alleged killing of unarmed Afghan civilians between 2009 and 2012. Investigators allege the victims were detained and not participating in hostilities at the time of their deaths.
Authorities say the charges stem from several separate incidents during Australian deployments in Afghanistan. Prosecutors allege some killings were carried out directly by Roberts-Smith or by other personnel acting on his orders. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment under Australian law.
Roberts-Smith, a recipient of the Victoria Cross for bravery in combat, has consistently denied wrongdoing. His arrest follows years of investigation into alleged misconduct by Australian special forces personnel during the Afghanistan war, including findings from a landmark 2020 military inquiry that identified evidence of unlawful killings involving elite troops.
The case also follows a high-profile defamation lawsuit brought by Roberts-Smith against several media organizations over earlier reporting on the allegations. In 2023, a federal court ruled that key accusations against him were substantially true on the balance of probabilities, though criminal proceedings require a higher standard of proof.
Investigators have acknowledged the case presents significant challenges, including limited access to Afghan crime scenes and reliance on witness testimony gathered years after the events.
Roberts-Smith is expected to appear in court for bail proceedings as the investigation moves into its next legal phase, a step widely seen as significant for accountability efforts related to alleged war crimes during Australia’s Afghanistan deployment.
