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Australia to prosecute troops for war crimes in Afghanistan
Source: Associated Press
Australia to prosecute troops for war crimes in Afghanistan
By ROD McGUIRK
November 12, 2020
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia on Thursday announced a new investigative agency to build criminal cases against Australian special forces suspected of committing war crimes in Afghanistan.
The Office of the Special Investigator is to be formed after a four-year investigation into allegations and rumors surrounding behavior of some soldiers in Special Air Service and Commando Regiments in Afghanistan from 2005 and 2016.
Benjamin Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most highly-decorated member of the armed services when he left the SAS in 2013, has been accused of by former colleagues of unlawful treatment of prisoners including illegally killing prisoners. The former corporal, who was awarded the Victoria Cross and the Medal for Gallantry for his service in Afghanistan, has denied any misconduct.
Defense Force Chief Gen. Angus Campbell will make public a redacted report on the four-year investigation next week.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the new agency, headed by a retired judge or senior criminal lawyer, was needed because the workload would “seriously overwhelm” existing police resources.
-snip-
By ROD McGUIRK
November 12, 2020
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia on Thursday announced a new investigative agency to build criminal cases against Australian special forces suspected of committing war crimes in Afghanistan.
The Office of the Special Investigator is to be formed after a four-year investigation into allegations and rumors surrounding behavior of some soldiers in Special Air Service and Commando Regiments in Afghanistan from 2005 and 2016.
Benjamin Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most highly-decorated member of the armed services when he left the SAS in 2013, has been accused of by former colleagues of unlawful treatment of prisoners including illegally killing prisoners. The former corporal, who was awarded the Victoria Cross and the Medal for Gallantry for his service in Afghanistan, has denied any misconduct.
Defense Force Chief Gen. Angus Campbell will make public a redacted report on the four-year investigation next week.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the new agency, headed by a retired judge or senior criminal lawyer, was needed because the workload would “seriously overwhelm” existing police resources.
-snip-
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-australia-war-crimes-a4e89f5da555713389c83cce23f16d3b
