This is a shocking exposé on decorated veteran Ben Robert Smith, accused of war crimes. The investigation reveals attempts to conceal evidence, threaten witnesses, and the disturbing behavior of Australian special forces in Afghanistan, including desecration of corpses and inappropriate conduct. The story unfolds with revelations of concealed photos, a buried USB stash, and efforts to undermine the war crimes inquiry. The involvement of media mogul Kerry Stokes in financing Smith's defense adds another layer to the complex narrative. The investigation also uncovers a sinister attempt to silence a witness through an anonymous threatening letter.
Sure, here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Ben Robert Smith, a highly decorated veteran of the Afghanistan War, has been under police investigation for war crimes accusations for the past three years.
2. Robert Smith emphatically denies any wrongdoing and claims he has nothing to hide about his time in Afghanistan.
3. Startling new information is revealed in the joint investigation by 60 Minutes, The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Age newspapers regarding Robert Smith's efforts to conceal evidence and threaten witnesses.
4. Australian Special Forces soldiers engaged in inappropriate and disgraceful behavior in Afghanistan, including desecrating the body of a killed Afghan man.
5. Ben Robert Smith is accused of unlawfully executing an Afghan man with a prosthetic leg, an accusation he denies but is still under investigation.
6. Kerry Stokes, a media mogul and owner of Channel 7, provided financial support for Ben Robert Smith's defense during the war crimes inquiry.
7. Ben Robert Smith was accused of attempting to silence witnesses who gave a different version of events in Afghanistan, including sending threatening anonymous letters.
8. Intimidating or silencing witnesses is considered a serious criminal offense that distorts the search for truth and justice in the criminal justice system.