Australian engineer Robert Pether released after five years in Iraq

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 13:20 · Archive

Australian engineer Robert Pether has been allowed to leave Iraq after five years detained over a business dispute. He was arrested without charge in April 2021 in connection to a contractual dispute between his employer CME Consulting and the Central Bank of Iraq, which his firm was building a new headquarters for. He was released from jail last year due to deteriorating health but was banned from leaving the country.

An Iraqi court last week dismissed proceedings against him and lifted the travel ban, citing lack of evidence. Mr Pether denied wrongdoing. A UN working group concluded in 2022 that his detention violated international law and due process. He boarded a flight on Monday to Ireland via Turkey after negotiations involving officials from Ireland, Australia, Egypt and Iraq.

Australian foreign minister Penny Wong said she was pleased he was now free to move forward with his life. Mr Pether's wife Desree said she was "hugely relieved", adding that it had been "an absolute nightmare, especially these last few months". Ireland's foreign minister Helen McEntee said she was delighted he was returning to Ireland.

How it is being reported

• Robert Pether: Australian held in Iraq for five years over contract dispute is finally releasedPether’s wife says she is ‘hugely relieved’ after months of ‘absolute nightmare’Independent World · 12 Oct, 12:47
• Robert Pether was detained in Iraq in 2021 and his family feared he would die in jail. Now he’s coming homeAustralian foreign minister welcomes Iraqi government’s decision to allow engineer to leave Baghdad Follow our Australia politics live blog for latest updates Get our new political email , free app or daily news podcast Australian engineer Robert Pether has been allowed to leave Iraq after a four-year stint in a Baghdad jail cell that his family feared was going to kill him. Pether’s family say they have been “living in hell” since he was arrested without charge in April 2021 in connection to a business dispute between his firm – which was building a new headquarters for the central bank –…Guardian World · 12 Oct, 03:58

In this story: Robert Pether · Penny Wong · CME Consulting · Central Bank of Iraq · Iraq · Australia · Ireland

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