CANBERRA, April 7 (Xinhua) -- One of Australia's most decorated soldiers has been arrested over alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan, federal police said on Tuesday.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) said in a statement that the former Australian Defense Force member, aged 47, was arrested at Sydney Airport and is expected to be charged with five counts of the war crime of murder.
Local media identified the arrested man as Ben Roberts-Smith, a former special forces soldier who was in 2011 awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia, the highest award in the Australian honors system, for acts of bravery in Afghanistan.
The AFP said that the five alleged murders occurred in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. ■