Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - International Service: David McBride, the former military lawyer who exposed the war crimes of Australian soldiers in Afghanistan, has pleaded guilty to the charge of illegal disclosure of classified information against him.

 

McBride was arrested in 2019 and faces five charges, including theft of government property, breaking the law and unauthorized disclosure of information, after revelations about Australia's war crimes in Afghanistan.

 

Australia's "ABC" news channel announced in a report that McBride admitted that he illegally sent classified information to journalists.

 

McBride now faces three charges, including theft and illegal sharing of classified military information.

 

Although McBride's attorney called his client's work beneficial to public resources, Judge David Massop said he had no legal right or obligation to violate the orders and that his actions could not be justified by national resources.

 

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of Australia has rejected an appeal against McBride's charges. However, he is going to be sentenced early next year for the crime of publishing confidential information.

 

Last year, David McBride, the military lawyer of the Australian army, published documents accusing his country's army of killing at least 39 civilians in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016. The documents that have put the army of this country under heavy criticism and questions.