Australian VC winner subject of defence investigation

[CourageAboveAllValues]

The inquiry by the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force (IGADF) has taken sworn testimony from several serving and former Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) soldiers who allege that the nation’s most decorated and famous soldier engaged in misconduct, ranging from relatively minor breaches of defence force policy to more serious allegations involving breaches of the laws of armed conflict.

Special forces soldiers are being probed over a wide range of issues. Two-hundred witnesses so far have been summoned to give evidence or provide documents and imagery to the Inspector-General. The directions given to these defence personnel by the inquiry, according to Fairfax Media's sources, has made it clear that Mr Roberts-Smith is one subject of the inquiry for his activities in Afghanistan in 2009 and his interaction with subordinate soldiers. The inquiry has also sought extensive information about other soldiers.

Evidence gathered by Fairfax Media, including testimony of many SAS serving and former soldiers, supports these soldiers’ belief that there are sufficient grounds beyond rumour to investigate Mr Roberts-Smith. Accumulated evidence indicates at least four other soldiers from both SAS and the Commandos are also under investigation, along with a broad range of contentious incidents.

- https://www.theage.com.au/politics/f...04-p4zpho.html


Unfortunate if true. I see both sides of the argument, however SASR will want to uphold its reputation, so I wonder what we'll see happen.

[digrar]

His patrol commander reckons they've got nothing on him.

[muck]

Maybe my reading skills have dropped as of late, but what exactly are they investigating this accomplished veteran about? Generic rumors about Aussie war crimes, presumably spread by the "abolish Anzac Day" types? Or is there a specific charge?

[Ballistic]

This part here pretty much sums it up:

The inquiry, which was launched in 2016 to investigate “rumours of possible breaches of the Laws of Armed Conflict by members of the Australian Defence Force in Afghanistan, between 2005 and 2016” is yet to make any conclusive findings.

It's a witch hunt based on rumours without any solid evidence. Fair enough if there had actually been substantive evidence discovered to back up this entire investigation, but as of yet, after almost two years nothing has been found.

Time to move along.

[digrar]

They're internal rumours, so they hold a bit of weight, but without any sort of evidence to back them up, most claims will die a slow death.

[Te Zorro]

This part here pretty much sums it up:



It's a witch hunt based on rumours without any solid evidence. Fair enough if there had actually been substantive evidence discovered to back up this entire investigation, but as of yet, after almost two years nothing has been found.

Time to move along.

"Lack of conclusive findings" doesn't meaning there's nothing there- it means that they're probably still collating everything, analysing it and writing the report(s). This is a big job- the classified version will be at least several hundred pages I'd imagine and these things have to be investigated thoroughly and properly. If it were a witchhunt, like you say, people's heads would have rolled on little to no evidence by now.

[CourageAboveAllValues]

Naturally they have to investigate it, but they'll be 2 outcomes. He'll be found guilty or not guilty of any indiscretions. I'd be surprised if they charged a VC recipient.
2-3 commandos from 2 Coy, 1 CDO RGT had charges dismissed a few years ago in relation to children incidentally being killed during a raid.

[gafkiwi]

"Lack of conclusive findings" doesn't meaning there's nothing there- it means that they're probably still collating everything, analysing it and writing the report(s). This is a big job- the classified version will be at least several hundred pages I'd imagine and these things have to be investigated thoroughly and properly. If it were a witchhunt, like you say, people's heads would have rolled on little to no evidence by now.

Yes it doesn't mean there is nothing there but the IGADF has a pretty solid reputation for for witch hunts and acting on 3rd and 4th hand information. They are quick to go "Noisy" and public with investigations and the like and then to go quiet very quickly when holes appear. You need to have a few major investigations under your belt to beef up your CV for post service employment. Whether they led to anything or not is irrelevant.

[CourageAboveAllValues]

Over almost a year, Fairfax Media has interviewed dozens of veterans, officials and people with knowledge of Roberts-Smith's personal conduct including decorated soldiers who served alongside him. Their claims include bullying, intimidation and his involvement in small SAS teams suspected of the abuse of unarmed civilians and the use of force that goes well beyond what is acceptable in the theatre of war. Sitting on the same VIP table as Lieutenant-General Campbell, between ADF deputy chief Vice-Admiral Ray Griggs and Veterans' Affairs Minister Darren Chester, was a female lawyer whom Roberts-Smith had brought as his guest, and whom he'd introduced to military figures earlier that day as a client of his employer, Channel Seven.
After completing a masters of business administration in 2016, the former Australian Army corporal had been appointed general manager of the TV network's Queensland operations by media tycoon Kerry Stokes. But the woman wasn't a Channel Seven client. Instead, Roberts-Smith was in the midst of a extramarital relationship with the woman.
Sources at the event questioned why Roberts-Smith risked revealing that he was having an affair by taking his mistress to a high-profile function where, beyond the Prime Minister, he was the most prominent guest. But, far more concerningly, senior defence officials later learnt of allegations she raised with police about what happened later that night at the Hotel Realm in Canberra: an alleged act of domestic violence and intimidation.

- https://www.theage.com.au/politics/f...01-p4zuwp.html

Police are now officially investigating.

As much as I hate to believe this, where there is smoke there is fire. Says a lot when fellow SAS operators are making complaints about his conduct and telling him to pull his head in.