Ben Roberts-Smith launches personal brand to fund war-crimes defence

Ben Roberts-Smith has launched a commercial venture with a slick promotional video ahead of his upcoming trial for war crimes in Afghanistan.

In the video posted to an account called Epic 1 Two, named after his military radio call sign, Roberts-Smith is filmed lifting weights at a gym and sitting on a beach, set to voice-over clips describing him as a hero and one of the country’s most decorated soldiers.

A news clip notes his arrest for war crimes, before Roberts-Smith says in voice-over: “I’ve never run from a fight in my life, I will never give up, and I will always be in the fight.”

The video, which appears professionally shot and edited, ends with Roberts-Smith looking directly into the camera. The post is captioned “#underdog”.

Roberts-Smith stands accused of executing or directing fellow soldiers to execute Afghan prisoners between 2006 and 2012. The former soldier was arrested at Sydney Airport in April following a joint investigation between the Office of the Special Investigator and the Australian Federal Police.

In a statement provided by his lawyer, Roberts-Smith said his brand is about representing underdogs and “all of those people facing their own hardships in life that keep fighting and keep grinding their way forward”.

The statement did not provide details about the brand, but in an interview with News Corp Roberts-Smith said it would include selling branded clothing with a discount for veterans as a way to financially support his family and his legal defence.

Records filed to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission show Epic 1 Two was registered as a business name in August by BS Group Australia, a Western Australian company which lists Roberts-Smith’s partner Sarah Matulin as director.

This masthead this week revealed the disgraced soldier had participated in a two-hour interview with 2GB host Ben Fordham, which is yet to air.

Roberts-Smith has become a lightning rod in right-wing politics, with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson often speaking in support of the soldier and addressing events such as a Justice for Ben barbecue in Brisbane earlier this year.

A judge granted Roberts-Smith permission to travel last week from Brisbane to Canberra to attend an event marking 25 years since the beginning of Australian service in Afghanistan. He stayed after the service to pose for photos with fellow veterans and sign autographs .

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