INTERFET Soldier not guilty

A SPECIAL forces soldier charged with kicking a body in East Timor in 1999 was recently found not guilty by a Defence Force Magistrate.

The soldier had been accused among a series of allegations against a number of Australian soldiers and units in East Timor during INTERFET.

The investigation into the claim referred the case to trial and a convening authority determined it should be heard by a Defence Force Magistrate.

The prosecution was unable to present evidence at the trial because its case relied on a number of witnesses from the New Zealand Special Forces, who declined to appear.

Vehicle fleet upgrade

FIRST steps have been taken to replace the ADF’s fleet of field vehicles and trailers with a recent request to industry for expressions of interest.

The contract, expected to be worth more than $1 billion, will see the gradual phase-in of thousands of replacement vehicles over the next ten years.

An industry briefing to be held in Townsville in October is likely to give some outline of the ADF’s requirements to interested companies.