Ahead of the arrest of former Australian soldier Ben Roberts-Smith, reporting indicates suspected media leaks involving the timing or details of the operation are being referred to an anti-corruption body. ABC Australia reports that news crews were present at Sydney Airport as a plane carrying Roberts-Smith landed, and that filming taken from inside the terminal captured images associated with the arrest.
The West Australian reports that the alleged pre-arrival or pre-arrest leak concerns have been referred to Australia’s national anti-corruption watchdog, described as the National Anti-Corruption Commission. Across the coverage, the focus is on whether information connected to the arrest became known to media outlets in advance, rather than on the underlying allegations against Roberts-Smith.
The reports do not agree on additional specifics about how the information was obtained, who provided it, or what investigative steps will follow. Both accounts maintain attention on the referral to the watchdog and the media presence at the airport during the arrest process.
