Billionaire Gina Rinehart says ‘I don’t understand’ arrest of Ben Robert-Smith over alleged war crimes

Australia’s richest person questions cost and time spent investigating former soldiers as pockets of support emerge for Victoria Cross recipient

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Australia’s richest person, Gina Rinehart, says “I don’t understand” the justification for prosecuting Ben Roberts-Smith for alleged war crimes, as pockets of high-profile support emerge for the Victoria Cross recipient.

Roberts-Smith was arrested in Sydney on Tuesday and charged with five counts of “war crime – murder” in relation to alleged offences in Afghanistan between April 2009 and October 2012. He is yet to enter a plea but is expected to defend the charges.