Australia's War Hero Arrested for War Crimes

0:00It's April 8th. This is Sydney News Today, AI-powered stories from your city. Australia's most decorated soldier, Ben Robert Smith, got hit with a major arrest this week. The former SAS Trooper and Victoria Crosswinner faces five counts of war crimes all tied to alleged murders in Afghanistan from April 2000. Nine to October 2012. Federal police nabbed him Tuesday morning at Sydney Airport and he's been denying any wrongdoing from the jump. He spent that first night locked up at Silverwater Correctional Center. Come Wednesday, no court showdown. His lawyer straight up said no bail application today. Instead, they pushed for a quick mention date, though the judge called that a long shot. Robert Smith's rep as a war hero makes this sting extra hard. He's the face of Aussie bravery, but these charges flip the script on his legacy, sparking debates over military accountability down under. The guys are glued, weighing his medals against the serious accusations.

1:00Lawyers got the next hearing set for June 4th at Sydney's Downing Center local court. No rush on bail means he'll stay behind bars a bit longer while the case builds. This saga's just heating up, with more layers to peel back on what went down overseas. Stay tuned as it unfolds.