A former member of Australia’s armed forces, widely recognized for his military honors, has been arrested and is expected to face multiple war crime charges tied to alleged killings in Afghanistan. Authorities confirmed the arrest took place at Sydney Airport on Tuesday, though an exact date and time were not disclosed.

The individual, identified by police as a 47-year-old former Australian Defence Force member and publicly named as Ben Roberts-Smith, is set to be charged with five counts of war crime murder. The charges relate to incidents that allegedly occurred between 2009 and 2012 during his deployments in Afghanistan. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment under Australian law.

According to officials, the victims were unarmed civilians who were not participating in hostilities at the time of their deaths. Investigators allege that the individuals were detained and under the control of military personnel when they were killed. Authorities further claim that the accused either carried out the shootings directly or ordered subordinates to do so.

Roberts-Smith, once celebrated as a national hero and awarded top military distinctions including the Victoria Cross, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Allegations surrounding his conduct first emerged in investigative reports several years ago and were later examined in a high-profile legal case. A federal court previously ruled that several of the accusations were substantiated.

The investigation has been complicated by limited access to crime scenes in Afghanistan, restricting the ability to gather forensic evidence. Officials noted that multiple inquiries into alleged misconduct by Australian special forces remain ongoing, with additional cases potentially leading to further charges.