Australia’s most decorated soldier forced to deny damning execution claims

He’s Australia’s most decorated soldier and has long been hailed a hero for his bravery, but Ben Roberts-Smith is now facing a shocking scandal after it was claimed he instigated a 2012 execution during a damning TV show on Sunday night.

The Victoria Cross winner has strongly denied allegations – aired on Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes – that he was involved in the execution of Ali Jan, who the program claimed was an Afghan farmer, during an operation in Afghanistan in 2012. The claims were made by two anonymous sources who the program stated were serving SAS members.

Ali Jan, who was claimed to be handcuffed and under confinement at the time, was allegedly kicked off a cliff before a second soldier shot him. While his death was already public, this was the first time Roberts-Smith was named in connection with the horrific war crime.

However he has rejected the allegations in a statement now, claiming they are an attempt to influence an ongoing inquiry before branding them “appalling”.

“I categorically deny the allegations made against me in tonight’s 60 Minutes program,’’ he said in a statement, according to The Australian. “I am concerned that tonight’s story and the previous publications by the SMH/Age are an attempt to improperly influence the outcome of the (Inspector-General of the Defence Force) inquiry.”

Eye witness and SAS insider accounts allege that Ali Jan’s hands were bound and he knelt on the edge of a cliff, before an Australian soldier kicked the Afghan farmer. #60Mins pic.twitter.com/V6fPuZhLTJ

— 60 Minutes Australia (@60Mins) September 22, 2019

He went on to insist both anonymous sources were speaking as if they had not witnessed Ali Jan’s death first-hand, adding: “None of the witnesses on tonight’s broadcast provided any direct evidence of any sort to support their allegations.” Roberts-Smith insisted he’s “appalled” that the program was ever allowed to air in the first place, claiming there wasn’t enough evidence to back it up, and added: “It is of serious concern to me and my lawyers that journalists have relied on such demonstrably weak evidence to support false allegations.”

A Defence inquiry and a criminal investigation by the Australian Federal Police are reportedly underway and Roberts-Smith is currently suing the publishers of The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times over a series of articles alleging he was involved in war crimes and domestic violence.

#60Mins can confirm Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most famous Afghanistan war veteran, is a suspect in both the AFP and ADF investigations into Ali Jan’s death. Ben Roberts-Smith denies the allegations. pic.twitter.com/WJBnXyovwo

— 60 Minutes Australia (@60Mins) September 22, 2019

It comes after Roberts-Smith broke his silence to categorically deny those shock claims in an exclusive interview with The Australian last year. Referring to one story published previously, he insisted it “contains a catalogue of lies, fabrications and misrepresentations”. He added: “It is the culmination of many months of malicious and highly damaging allegations, all of which will be vigorously defended.”

He insisted the claims were false and damaging, adding: “I do want to say today that I unequivocally deny any physical abuse of any woman at any time ever, and that I have not at any stage been interviewed by police about any purported complaint by any woman.”

The story sparked a huge reaction online, with one person branding the segment “bulls***” while another added: “What a disgrace. Hastie was doing this show for political reasons, and the other two liars that wouldn’t show their faces were never there and only going off hairsay. What a disgrace 60 minutes airing this and trying to tarnish an Australian war hero.” Meanwhile one wrote: “Easy grab sensational Reporting on the low hanging fruit of the absolute stark reality of what our soldiers have needed to do to live through Afghanistan.”

Roberts-Smith was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during a helicopter assault into Tizak in June 2010, while serving with the Special Air Service Regiment in Afghanistan.

He also received the Medal of Gallantry during a tour of Afghanistan in 2006 – making him the country’s most decorated soldier. The soldier was later awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service for his leadership as a patrol commander during a 2012 tour of Afghanistan.