The leaking of plans to arrest former soldier Ben Roberts-Smith to media has been referred to the National Anti-Corruption Commission after news crews captured his arrival at Sydney Airport from inside the terminal—raising questions about operational security and potential political interference in war crimes investigations.Someone wanted Roberts-Smith's arrest to be a public spectacle. Now investigators want to know who.According to the ABC, the Office of the Special Investigator and Australian Federal Police referred the matter to the NACC after operational details reached journalists before the arrest occurred. Media crews were positioned inside Sydney Airport, capturing images of Roberts-Smith being taken into custody—access that suggests inside information.The arrest itself was expected. Roberts-Smith, a former Special Air Service soldier and Victoria Cross recipient, faces potential war crimes charges stemming from alleged unlawful killings in Afghanistan. A Federal Court defamation case he launched against media outlets backfired spectacularly, with the judge finding allegations of war crimes were substantially true.But the leak of arrest details is a separate scandal. Operational security for sensitive law enforcement actions is supposed to be tight. If someone inside the investigation or government tipped off media, it represents a serious breach—and raises questions about motives.Was this about transparency? Public accountability? Or was someone using the arrest for political purposes?The NACC investigation will try to answer those questions. The body has powers to compel testimony and access communications. If someone in government or law enforcement leaked operational details, they could face serious consequences.For Roberts-Smith, the leak adds insult to injury. Whatever one thinks of the allegations against him—and the Federal Court found them substantially proven—he's entitled to due process without his arrest being turned into a media circus.The broader context is fraught. War crimes investigations into Australian special forces in Afghanistan have been politically contentious. Some see accountability for alleged atrocities. Others see a witch hunt against soldiers who served in impossible conditions.The government has tried to walk a fine line: supporting investigations while honoring veterans. Leaking an arrest to create a public spectacle doesn't serve either goal.The Office of the Special Investigator was established specifically to handle war crimes allegations with appropriate sensitivity and security. If leaks are compromising that process, the integrity of the entire investigation is at risk.The AFP, which participated in the arrest, has its own leak problem. The organization has faced criticism for unauthorized disclosures in politically sensitive cases before.The NACC will now investigate whether this leak was unauthorized, who was responsible, and whether it constitutes corrupt conduct. The outcomes could be significant—not just for individuals who leaked, but for trust in the war crimes investigation process.Mate, someone wanted Roberts-Smith's arrest to be a show. Now we'll find out who, and why.