(MENAFN) A former member of the Australian Special Forces has been charged with a war crime for the murder of a civilian in Afghanistan. This is the first indictment to be filed following a military investigation, which was released in 2020 and revealed that Australian troops had killed 39 Afghan citizens. The suspect, identified by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as former Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) trooper Oliver Schulz, was arrested in New South Wales on Monday. According to the Australian Federal Police, it will be alleged that Schulz murdered an Afghan man during his deployment to Afghanistan.
This is a significant case, as it marks the first time a current or former soldier under Australian law has been charged with murder as a war crime. The incident in question occurred in 2012, in Uruzgan province, where Schulz is accused of shooting an Afghan man in a wheat field. ABC broadcasted video footage in 2020, which purportedly showed the incident.
If Schulz is found guilty of this crime, he could be sentenced to life imprisonment. The charges against him serve as a stark reminder of the atrocities committed by Australian soldiers during their time in Afghanistan. The nation has been grappling with the fallout of the military investigation, which uncovered a disturbing culture of violence and disregard for human life among some members of the country's Special Forces.
The Australian government has since established a new Office of the Special Investigator, which is responsible for conducting criminal probes into alleged war crimes committed by Australian soldiers. The charges against Schulz are a clear indication that the government is taking these allegations seriously and is committed to holding those responsible for these crimes accountable for their actions.
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