Australia’s most decorated living veteran, Ben Roberts-Smith, has been charged with multiple war crimes over allegations he killed five unarmed Afghan civilians during deployments between 2009 and 2012, according to police and media reports.

Authorities have not officially named the 47-year-old former soldier arrested on Tuesday. However, multiple outlets have identified him as Roberts-Smith, a former corporal in the Special Air Service Regiment who was awarded both the Victoria Cross and the Medal of Gallantry for his service in Afghanistan.

Police said the accused faces five counts of war crime murder. He is expected to remain in custody overnight and appear in court on Wednesday, where he may seek bail.

Roberts-Smith is only the second Australian veteran from the Afghanistan conflict to face such charges. Another former SAS soldier, Oliver Schulz, has pleaded not guilty to a separate war crime murder charge. Schulz is accused of fatally shooting an Afghan man, Dad Mohammad, in Uruzgan province in May 2012.

Under Australian law, war crime murder is defined as the intentional killing of a person not actively participating in hostilities, including civilians, prisoners of war, or wounded individuals. The offense carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said the arrest took place at Sydney Airport after the suspect arrived on a flight from Brisbane.

“It will be alleged that the victims were not taking part in hostilities at the time,” Barrett said. “They were detained, unarmed, and under the control of Australian Defence Force personnel when they were killed.”