A former Australian soldier was arrested and charged Tuesday with war crimes for allegedly killing five unarmed Afghans while serving in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012, according to Australian Federal Police.

The 47-year-old man, whose name has been identified by some media outlets as Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia's most decorated living soldier, was arrested at Sydney Airport after arriving on a flight from Brisbane. He is expected to appear in a Sydney court Tuesday.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said the charges allege the victims were detained, unarmed and under the control of Australian Defence Force members when they were killed. "It will be alleged the victims were shot by the accused or shot by subordinate members of the ADF in the presence of and acting on the orders of the accused," Barrett told reporters.

The charges carry a potential sentence of life in prison. War crime murder is defined under Australian federal law as the intentional killing in armed conflict of a person not taking active part in hostilities, including civilians, prisoners of war or wounded soldiers.

This marks only the second time an Australian Afghanistan veteran has been charged with war crimes. Former Special Air Service Regiment soldier Oliver Schulz, 44, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of war crime murder for allegedly shooting an Afghan man in May 2012.

The charges follow a 2020 military report that found evidence elite Australian SAS and commando troops unlawfully killed 39 Afghan prisoners, farmers and other noncombatants. The Office of the Special Investigator has investigated 53 alleged war crimes, with 39 investigations concluding without charges. Approximately 40,000 Australian military personnel served in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2021.