Latest news with #RobertPether
Iraqi News
09-06-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Iraq frees Egyptian and Australian engineers over central bank contract issue
Baghdad – Iraq has released an Australian mechanical engineer and his Egyptian colleague who were detained for more than four years over a dispute with the central bank, authorities said Friday, though the two remain barred from leaving the country. Robert Pether and Khalid Radwan were working for an engineering company contracted to oversee the construction of the bank's new Baghdad headquarters, according to a United Nations report, when they were arrested in April 2021. A report from a working group for the UN Human Rights Council said the arrests stemmed from a contractual dispute over 'alleged failure to execute certain payments'. Both men were sentenced to five years in prison and fined $12 million, the working group said. A security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that Pether, in his fifties, was released 'due to his poor health'. Australian media have previously reported that the family suspected Pether had developed lung cancer in prison and that he had undergone surgery for skin cancer. A second Iraqi official confirmed the release of Radwan, adding that he was not allowed to leave the country until a 'final decision' was made regarding his case. Australia's ABC broadcaster quoted the country's foreign minister, Penny Wong, as welcoming the release and saying the Australian government had raised the issue with Iraqi authorities more than 200 times. Simon Harris, foreign minister for Ireland, where Pether's family lives, posted on X: 'This evening, I have been informed of the release on bail of Robert Pether, whose imprisonment in Iraq has been a case of great concern. 'This is very welcome news in what has been a long and distressing saga for Robert's wife, three children and his wider family and friends.' Speaking to Irish national broadcaster RTE, Pether's wife, Desree Pether, said her husband was 'not well at all' and 'really needs to just come home so he can get the proper medical care he needs'. 'He's completely unrecognisable. It's a shock to the system to see how far he has declined,' she said.
Sky News AU
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Australian released from Iraqi prison after more than four years behind bars
The federal government is welcoming the release of an Australian engineer from a jail in Iraq. Robert Pether has been granted bail, emerging from a prison in Iraq after spending more than four years behind bars. Mr Pether was arrested in April 2021 alongside his Egyptian colleague, charged with deception, however, he has always maintained his innocence.
Arab News
06-06-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Iraq frees Australian, Egyptian engineers after four years, but keeps travel ban
BAGHDAD: Iraq has released an Australian mechanical engineer and his Egyptian colleague who were detained for more than four years over a dispute with the central bank, authorities said Friday, though the two remain barred from leaving the country. Robert Pether and Khalid Radwan were working for an engineering company contracted to oversee the construction of the bank's new Baghdad headquarters, according to a United Nations report, when they were arrested in April 2021. A report from a working group for the UN Human Rights Council said the arrests stemmed from a contractual dispute over 'alleged failure to execute certain payments.' Both men were sentenced to five years in prison and fined $12 million, the working group said. A security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that Pether, in his fifties, was released 'due to his poor health.' Australian media have previously reported that the family suspected Pether had developed lung cancer in prison and that he had undergone surgery for skin cancer. A second Iraqi official confirmed the release of Radwan, adding that he was not allowed to leave the country until a 'final decision' was made regarding his case. Australia's ABC broadcaster quoted the country's foreign minister, Penny Wong, as welcoming the release and saying the Australian government had raised the issue with Iraqi authorities more than 200 times. Simon Harris, foreign minister for Ireland, where Pether's family lives, posted on X: 'This evening, I have been informed of the release on bail of Robert Pether, whose imprisonment in Iraq has been a case of great concern. 'This is very welcome news in what has been a long and distressing saga for Robert's wife, three children and his wider family and friends.' Speaking to Irish national broadcaster RTE, Pether's wife, Desree Pether, said her husband was 'not well at all' and 'really needs to just come home so he can get the proper medical care he needs.' 'He's completely unrecognizable. It's a shock to the system to see how far he has declined,' she said.
Sunday World
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Sunday World
Irish wife of man jailed in Iraq for four years was ‘numb with shock' after release
'I got a little advance warning of his release and I was numb with shock as it was so unexpected.' The Irish wife of Robert Pether who was released from an Iraqi jail last night has revealed how she was numb with shock when told the news The couple live in Elphin county Roscommon and Robert was locked up four years ago after being caught up in a dispute between his employers and the Iraqi government but is now out on bail. His wife Desree told the Sunday World, 'I got a little advance warning of his release and I was numb with shock as it was so unexpected.' Robert Pether News in 90 Seconds - 6th June 2025 'He called me from his lawyers phone late last night and only then did I really believe it. It was a video call and he looked so ill he was barely recognizable. 'I hadn't seen him in weeks because he was too weak to take calls and we had been correspnding solely by email' As part of his bail conditions Robert has to remain in Iraq and Desree's efforts to address that have been delayed. 'The Muslim festival of Eid has just begun and nothing gets done for a week so we just have to wait, but having waited four years to get this far we'll manage that 'He needs to get home for medical help so we'll battle on'. Tanáiste Simon Harris pleaded Roberts case in a meeting with Iraqi officials last month and Desree said: 'To be fair the government here have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help'
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Iraq frees Australian engineer after four years, but keeps travel ban
ANI file photo BAGHDAD: Iraq has released an Australian mechanical engineer on bail who was detained for more than four years over a dispute with the central bank, authorities said Friday, though he remains barred from leaving the country. Robert Pether was working for an engineering company contracted to oversee the construction of the bank's new Baghdad headquarters, according to a United Nations report, when he was arrested in April 2021 alongside his Egyptian deputy Khalid Radwan. A report from a working group for the UN Human Rights Council said the arrests stemmed from a contractual dispute over "alleged failure to execute certain payments". Both men were sentenced to five years in prison and fined $12 million, the working group said. A security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that Pether, in his fifties, was released "due to his poor health". Australian media have previously reported that the family suspected Pether had developed lung cancer in prison and that he had undergone surgery for skin cancer. The official declined to comment on the fate of Radwan. Australia's ABC broadcaster quoted the country's foreign minister, Penny Wong, as welcoming the release and saying the Australian government had raised the issue with Iraqi authorities more than 200 times. Simon Harris, foreign minister for Ireland, where Pether's family lives, posted on X: "This evening, I have been informed of the release on bail of Robert Pether, whose imprisonment in Iraq has been a case of great concern. "This is very welcome news in what has been a long and distressing saga for Robert's wife, three children and his wider family and friends." Speaking to Irish national broadcaster RTE, Pether's wife, Desree Pether, said her husband was "not well at all" and "really needs to just come home so he can get the proper medical care he needs". "He's completely unrecognisable. It's a shock to the system to see how far he has declined," she said.
