An Australian judge has sentenced David McBride, a former army lawyer, to nearly six years in prison for leaking classified information to the media.
McBride, 60, pleaded guilty to three charges, including theft and sharing secret documents with the press, which exposed allegations of Australian war crimes in Afghanistan.
He was sentenced to five years and eight months in prison in Canberra, with an order to serve 27 months before being eligible for parole.
McBride addressed supporters outside the court, stating, "I may have broken the law, but I did not break my oath to the people of Australia and the soldiers that keep us safe."
His lawyer, Mark Davis, announced plans to appeal the ruling, focusing on a previous decision that prevented McBride from mounting a defense.
McBride's leaked documents were the basis of a 2017 Australian Broadcasting Corp. television series that alleged war crimes, including the killing of unarmed Afghan men and children by Australian Special Air Service Regiment soldiers in 2013.
Despite the severity of the sentence, McBride's conviction raised concerns about the lack of whistleblower protections in Australia.
The sentencing comes amidst ongoing investigations into alleged war crimes by Australian troops in Afghanistan. A 2020 military report found evidence of unlawful killings, leading to recommendations for criminal investigations against 19 soldiers.
McBride's case has sparked debate about the treatment of whistleblowers and the need for legal reforms to protect those who expose wrongdoing in the public interest.