Overview
- The Office of the Special Investigator and the Australian Federal Police have jointly referred apparent pre‑arrest media knowledge to the National Anti‑Corruption Commission for investigation, and the NACC has not yet responded.
- The referral was prompted after investigators noticed journalists in locations tied to the operation before the arrest, a development OSI director‑general Chris Moraitis raised at Senate estimates.
- The arrest of Ben Roberts‑Smith, which occurred on April 7, led to five war‑crimes charges alleging the murder of unarmed civilians in Afghanistan and triggered the scrutiny of how operational information became public.
- Roberts‑Smith has denied the allegations, remains on bail with conditions including surrendering his passport and regular police check‑ins, and is due to appear at Sydney’s Downing Centre on June 4.
- The OSI says it may need outside technical help to trace any leak, and the inquiry by the NACC could affect how sensitive investigations are run, how media access is managed, and whether any officials face accountability.