Robert Pether returning to Ireland after Iraqi detention

Robert Pether, a construction engineer from Ireland, is set to return home after being detained in Iraq for a period of five years. The 51-year-old was imprisoned in 2021 on fraud charges in connection with a contract dispute involving the consulting firm he worked for and the Central Bank of Iraq. The United Nations had declared his detention to be illegal, while an international court ruled that his employer bore no responsibility for the business disagreement.

Today, the Australian government officially confirmed that Pether was en route to reunite with his family in Ireland. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed her satisfaction, stating that the outcome had been achieved following many years of persistent advocacy by both Australia and the Irish authorities. Just prior to his departure from Baghdad, Pether spoke with RTÉ News, where his wife, Desree, shared her disbelief over the news.

She revealed that her family has tirelessly campaigned for his release, fearing he would ultimately perish in Iraq.

Last year, Pether was granted conditional bail from the prison in Iraq due to his declining health; however, he was prohibited from leaving the country. Describing her husband's situation, Desree Pether explained that he lived in constant fear of being re-arrested and had been hiding in Baghdad, completely isolated from the outside world.