Published • loading... • Updated
Roberts-Smith Arrest Leak Referred to Corruption Body
The Office of the Special Investigator asked the National Anti-Corruption Commission to examine whether arrest details were leaked before Roberts-Smith was charged.
- On Tuesday, the Office of the Special Investigator and Australian Federal Police jointly referred unauthorised media leaks to the National Anti-Corruption Commission concerning advance notice given to journalists before Ben Roberts-Smith's arrest at Sydney Airport on April 7.
- Nine News had reporters positioned at Sydney Airport ahead of Roberts-Smith's arrival and broadcast footage from inside the terminal, prompting OSI director-general Chris Moraitis to express alarm after seeing media present on the morning of the arrest.
- During Senate estimates on Tuesday night, Moraitis told lawmakers: "It's a matter that concerns me. The media seem to have been privy to things, and therefore we're taking steps to ascertain what happened there," adding the agencies believed there was an unauthorised disclosure.
- The National Anti-Corruption Commission confirmed the matter was under active consideration with commissioner Paul Brereton recused to avoid conflicts, while criminal lawyer Karen Espiner representing Roberts-Smith called the leak "a serious breach of protocol and integrity" demanding accountability.
- Of the Office of the Special Investigator's 53 investigations into alleged war crimes, 39 have been discontinued and 10 remain ongoing with two veterans charged; prosecutors have foreshadowed additional charges in what has been described as "the murder trial of the decade.
Insights by Ground AI
Podcasts & Opinions
12 Articles
12 Articles
Corruption Watchdog to Investigate Why Media Present at Roberts-Smith Arrest
Australia’s federal anti-corruption body has been asked to look into why reporters were present during the public arrest of war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith. Roberts-Smith, a former SAS soldier and Victoria Cross recipient, faces five war crime charges relating to the alleged murders of Afghan nationals during his service from 2009–12. He is currently on bail and continues to deny the allegations. During a Senate Estimates hearing on May 26, questi…
·New York, United States
Read Full Article
Coverage Details
Total News Sources12
Leaning Left6Leaning Right3Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution55% Left
Bias Distribution
- 55% of the sources lean Left
55% Left
L 55%
C 18%
R 27%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
