Ben Roberts-Smith, a former Australian SAS soldier, was arrested on 7 April 2023 and charged with involvement in the murders of five unarmed detainees during his service in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2012. Prior to his arrest, he had been exploring business opportunities overseas. However, according to his partner, Sarah Matulin, Roberts-Smith had always planned to return to Australia to face any potential criminal charges.
In court documents released during his bail hearing in Sydney, Matulin described their intentions to create a new life outside Australia, yet reassured that they were committed to confronting the allegations. She stated, “We have never planned to run away from this and have always intended to face the criminal charges if they presented,” adding that Roberts-Smith would willingly surrender to authorities if asked.
In March 2023, Roberts-Smith initiated contact with a business executive in Thailand to discuss opportunities, which soon evolved into discussions about moving abroad, including potential ventures in Spain and Myanmar. Matulin acknowledged that their desire to relocate was openly communicated to friends and family, indicating a serious commitment to these plans.
Despite frequent international travel—28 times since 2018, including a government-funded trip to the UK for the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral—Roberts-Smith returned to Australia repeatedly, even while being under investigation for war crimes. His lawyer revealed plans for a voluntary arrest, contingent on police notifying him of impending charges.
Roberts-Smith has consistently denied any wrongdoing, a stance he maintained during a failed defamation lawsuit against Nine, the publisher of this news outlet. His financial situation has dramatically declined; he disclosed having liquidated his assets and that his parents contributed $400,000 towards his legal fees. Currently, he receives a service pension of $4,500 every fortnight.
The allegations against Roberts-Smith are serious, including claims that he machine-gunned an Afghan prisoner and orchestrated the killing of the prisoner’s son during a raid in 2009. Additional accusations detail events in 2012 where he allegedly caused the death of several detainees in brutal circumstances, including pushing one man off a cliff and shooting another in cold blood.
The case is set to continue in court on 2 June 2023, with Roberts-Smith maintaining his innocence throughout the legal proceedings.