CANBERRA, Australia: An Australian judge has sentenced former army lawyer David McBride to over five years in prison on Tuesday for stealing classified defence files related to the Afghanistan war and disclosing them to the media.
McBride, who admitted guilt to three charges of theft and dissemination of military information in November, received a sentence of five years and eight months, with a minimum of two years and three months before parole eligibility. The ruling was handed down by Justice David Mossop in the Australian Capital Territory’s Supreme Court in Canberra.
The leaked material was utilized by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) for its “Afghan Files” series in 2017, which alleged Australian military involvement in unlawful killings of unarmed individuals, including children, in Afghanistan.
McBride’s lawyer, Mark Davis, announced plans to appeal the verdict, citing questions regarding the interpretation of “duty” in McBride’s case.
McBride’s guilty plea followed unsuccessful attempts by his legal team to argue that his military oath obligated him to disclose information in the public interest.
Since the September 11, 2001 attacks, over 26,000 Australian troops were deployed to Afghanistan to combat Taliban and Al-Qaeda forces. Reports have since emerged detailing alleged misconduct by Australian special forces, including unlawful killings and other atrocities.
The ABC’s reporting on the “Afghan Files” prompted a police investigation into the journalists involved, although the case was later dropped. Additionally, a public inquiry in 2020 concluded that Australian special forces had unlawfully killed dozens of civilians and prisoners in Afghanistan, leading to calls for accountability and reforms within the military.
