Robert Pether, an Australian mechanical engineer, has been conditionally released from prison in Iraq after nearly four years of detention that the United Nations has labeled arbitrary and unlawful.
Mr. Pether was imprisoned in 2021 on fraud charges linked to a contract dispute involving the consulting firm he worked for, CME Consulting, and the Central Bank of Iraq. The dispute arose during a large-scale rebuild project of the bank’s Baghdad headquarters, which Mr. Pether had managed since 2015.
The UN condemned his detention as illegal, citing abusive and coercive interrogation tactics. In 2022, an international arbitration court ruled that the Central Bank of Iraq was responsible for the contractual conflict and ordered compensation to CME Consulting.
Despite his release, Mr. Pether remains banned from leaving Iraq, and ongoing legal proceedings continue. His wife, Desree Pether, told the BBC that he is “extremely sick” and urgently requires medical care. She described her husband’s physical state as deteriorated, noting that he has not eaten properly for months and may be facing a relapse of skin cancer.
“It’s the first step in the right direction after four years, but there is still a long way to go,” said Desree, who has been advocating tirelessly for his release. The family is now focusing on securing permission for his travel and access to hospital care.
The Australian government welcomed the development as a “positive step” after persistent diplomatic efforts. Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed hope that this news would bring relief to the Pether family after years of distress.
Simon Harris, Ireland’s deputy prime minister, where the Pether family resides, also confirmed the release and called for Mr. Pether to be allowed to return home safely.
Mr. Pether’s case has drawn international attention as a troubling example of the complexities surrounding foreign workers detained abroad amid legal disputes. The family has launched crowdfunding efforts to provide Mr. Pether with private medical care while he remains in Baghdad.
“We just want him home,” Desree Pether said.
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