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.
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.
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