Office of the Special Investigator

The Office of the Special Investigator (OSI) is an Australian government agency responsible for investigating allegations of war crimes committed by Australian Defence Force personnel in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016. The OSI was established following the release of the Brereton Report, which detailed credible evidence of unlawful killings and other misconduct. The OSI works in partnership with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to gather evidence and prepare cases for prosecution. The OSI is currently newsworthy due to the arrest of Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia's most decorated living soldier. Roberts-Smith is expected to be charged with five counts of war crime – murder, following an investigation by the AFP and the OSI. This arrest highlights the ongoing work of the OSI and the potential for prosecutions related to alleged war crimes in Afghanistan, underscoring the significance of accountability for actions during armed conflict.