<p style="text-align: justify;">KABUL (Pajhwok): Australian soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has been arrested at Sydney airport in connection with alleged war crimes in Afghanistan, media reports said on Tuesday.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">According to a report by The Guardian, the Australian Federal Police and the Office of the Special Investigator announced details of the case in Sydney.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Roberts-Smith is expected to be charged with five counts of war crimes, including murder, linked to three separate incidents. The maximum penalty for these offences is life imprisonment.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Krissy Barrett, commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, said the incidents involved Afghan nationals allegedly being shot dead either by Roberts-Smith or by a subordinate under his command while he was present.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Although Barrett did not directly name Roberts-Smith, she said the 47-year-old is accused of involvement in the deaths of Afghan nationals between 2009 and 2012 in circumstances that constitute war crimes.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">“It will be alleged the victims were not taking part in hostilities at the time of their alleged murder in Afghanistan,” she said.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">“It will be alleged the victims were detained, unarmed and under the control of Australian Defence Force members when they were killed.”</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Barrett confirmed that Roberts-Smith was arrested at the domestic terminal after arriving in Sydney on a flight from Brisbane.</p>
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