Robert Pether was detained in Iraq in 2021 and his family feared he would die in jail. Now he’s coming home
Summary
Australian engineer Robert Pether was detained in an Iraqi prison for over four years after being arrested without charge in 2021 related to a business dispute. He was released last year due to poor health but was initially banned from leaving Iraq until recently when the Iraqi government allowed him to return home to Australia.Key Facts
- Robert Pether was arrested in April 2021 in Baghdad over a dispute involving his company and the Iraqi government.
- He was held in prison for more than four years without formal charges.
- The United Nations said his detention was arbitrary and possibly involved torture and serious mistreatment.
- Pether’s health worsened significantly during imprisonment, and he was released last year but could not leave Iraq initially.
- The Australian government pressured Iraqi officials more than 200 times to help secure his release.
- Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed Pether was recently allowed to leave Iraq and is now free to reunite with his family.
- Pether was sentenced and fined over allegations related to misuse of funds in the business dispute but faced unclear charges during his trial.
- His family described the detention period as extremely painful and feared for his life.
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