Arabic version: بين روبرتس-سميث يعلن عن نيته لمواجهة تهم جرائم الحرب

Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most decorated living soldier, has publicly denied all allegations against him following his recent charges of war crimes. According to BBC News, Roberts-Smith was charged with five counts of the war crime of murder related to incidents involving unarmed Afghan detainees between 2009 and 2012.

In his first public statement after being charged, Roberts-Smith expressed pride in his military service in Afghanistan and stated his intention to use the legal proceedings to clear his name. The 47-year-old former corporal in the Special Air Service (SAS) emphasized that he has never backed down from a fight, promising to confront the allegations head-on.

Roberts-Smith, who was arrested at Sydney airport on April 7, was released on bail on Friday. The judge overseeing his case noted its exceptional nature, indicating that he could face “possibly years and years” in custody if bail had not been granted. He described his arrest as a sensational and unnecessary spectacle, refraining from answering questions from journalists.

The criminal charges against Roberts-Smith follow a civil defamation case from 2023, where a judge found substantial truth to some murder claims against him. This trial marked a significant moment in Australian legal history, as it was the first time claims of war crimes by Australian forces were examined in court. Roberts-Smith had previously argued that the alleged killings were either lawful or did not occur, but he lost an appeal against the Federal Court’s findings last year.