Australian army whistleblower jailed for leaking documents
Amanda Smith 1 hours ago David McBride pleaded guilty to stealing and sharing military secrets David McBride: Australian army whistleblower jailed for leaking documents A whistleblower who helped expose allegations of Australian war crimes in Afghanistan has been sentenced to five years and eight months in jaild. David McBride pleaded guilty to stealing and sharing military secrets on the eve of his trial last year, after legal rulings sunk his defence. An ex-military lawyer, McBride said he felt a moral duty to speak up. A landmark inquiry later found evidence that Australian forces had unlawfully killed 39 Afghans during the war. McBride's case has sparked uproar in Australia, putting a spotlight on what some say are flimsy whistleblower protections and slow progress towards prosecuting soldiers alleged to have killed with impunity under its flag.