Latest news with #AustralianEngineer
SBS Australia
2 days ago
- SBS Australia
Australian held prisoner in Iraq freed after 4 years
Australian held prisoner in Iraq freed after 4 years Published 6 June 2025, 8:22 am An Australian engineer who spent the past four years in an Iraqi prison, is tonight free on bail. Robert Pether was jailed on fraud charges in 2021 after a contract dispute between his employer and the Iraqi authorities. In recent weeks, his family had warned that his health was at risk if he remained in prison.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Bombshell update four years after Aussie father-of-three and engineer was thrown in Iraqi jail
A Sydney father-of-three and engineer detained in an Iraqi prison for nearly four years has been released on bail in a major breakthrough. Robert Pether has been locked up in a heavily-guarded facility on the outskirts of Baghdad for the better part of half a decade after being arrested while helping the war-ravaged country rebuild on April 7, 2021. Pether had travelled to Baghdad to discuss a multimillion-dollar blowout in the cost of building the new headquarters for the government-owned Central Bank of Iraq. He was charged with deception and was sentenced to five years behind bars and a $16million fine. Pether has always maintained his innocence. The mechanical engineer claimed he was unlawfully held captive as part of a sinister plot to extort millions of dollars from his boss's construction company. Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has welcomed his release. 'His case has been raised with Iraqi authorities over 200 times, including at the highest level by the Prime Minister and myself,' Senator Wong said. 'I want to thank Australian officials for their tireless work on Mr Pether's case, including Australia's special envoy who travelled to Iraq in recent weeks to negotiate for this outcome.' The update comes after Mr Pether begged for help in a letter to Daily Mail Australia. Mr Pether said he was terrified he would die in prison and never see his wife, Desree, or children, Flynn, 20, Oscar, 18, and Nala, 11, again.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Australian engineer freed from Iraqi jail after four years
An Australian engineer has been freed after spending four years in an Iraqi prison. Robert Pether was designing Iraq's central bank in Baghdad when a contract dispute broke out between his employer the country's government. The quarrel resulted in Mr Pether and an Egyptian colleague being sentenced to five years behind bars and fined millions on fraud charges — charges both men deny. Mr Pether has been released on bail, meaning his chances of leaving Iraq with pending proceedings are low. Foreign Minister Penny Wong welcomed his release on Friday, calling it a 'positive development'. 'I know the personal toll Mr Pether's detention has taken on him and his family and hope this news brings a measure of relief after years of distress,' Senator Wong said in a statement. 'While Mr Pether remains subject to legal proceedings in Iraq, this is a positive development and follows persistent Australian Government advocacy over many years.' She said his case was 'raised with Iraqi authorities over 200 times, including at the highest level by the Prime Minister and myself'. 'I want to thank Australian officials for their tireless work on Mr Pether's case, including Australia's special envoy who travelled to Iraq in recent weeks to negotiate for this outcome,' Senator Wong said. 'We will continue to support Mr Pether and his family and to advocate for Mr Pether's interests and wellbeing.'
