Australian Engineer Exits Iraq After Five Years of Detention

Australian national Robert Pether has finally left Iraq, concluding a five-year period of detention that began with his arrest on fraud charges. The 51-year-old engineer was taken into custody in 2021 following a contract dispute involving the consulting firm where he worked and the Central Bank of Iraq.

International bodies, including the United Nations, have deemed Pether’s detention unlawful, with the UN specifically citing “abusive and coercive” interrogations. The International Chamber of Commerce’s Court of Arbitration also ruled in 2023 that the Central Bank of Iraq was at fault in the business disagreement and ordered them to pay compensation.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed Pether’s departure, stating it followed “many years of persistent advocacy” by Australian and Irish authorities. She expressed her pleasure that he is now free to resume his life. Pether’s wife, Desree, shared her immense relief, describing the ordeal as an “absolute nightmare” with “so many obstacles and plot twists right up to the last minute.”

While Pether was conditionally released from prison last year, he remained barred from leaving Iraq. His arrest and subsequent imprisonment occurred amid a dispute over a project to rebuild the Central Bank of Iraq’s headquarters. He and a colleague were initially held without charge for nearly six months before facing a swift trial and receiving a five-year sentence and a substantial fine.

His release and departure mark a significant development for his family, who had feared for his safety. Pether is currently in transit and expected to be reunited with his loved ones in Ireland.

Source: Nile Post