ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An Australian citizen, Robert Pether, has been released on bail in Iraq where he had been jailed for four years, Ireland’s foreign minister said on Thursday, following diplomatic efforts and appeals to Iraqi authorities. “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,” Irish Foreign Minister Simon Harris said in a statement, adding, “Foreign Minister [Fuad] Hussein of Iraq, whom I spoke to last month to urge Robert’s release, called me this evening with the news.” Pether, an engineer and employee of a UAE-based consulting firm contracted to work on construction of Iraq’s new central bank headquarters, was arrested in April 2021 along with an Egyptian colleague Khalid Radwan. He was charged with deception, but has consistently maintained his innocence, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). He was sentenced to five years in prison and fined $12 million. Harris said Pether has been “released on bail and for the moment he remains in Iraq,” calling it a first step to his being allowed to return to Roscommon, Ireland where he had been living with his family prior to his arrest. Harris said he spoke with Pether’s wife, Desree, and thanked Irish diplomatic officials in the region for their “continued work on this case.” “We remain concerned about Robert’s health and outstanding charges, but I am hopeful now of a positive resolution in this case,” he said. Pether’s family claims he was a pawn in a dispute over delays and cost overruns in the construction of the new central bank. The United Nations said evidence suggests Robert Pether was subjected to torture while in prison and that he and Radwan were arbitrarily detained. It also expressed concerns that his health has deteriorated in prison. Pether’s wife repeatedly voiced concerns over his welfare and limited access to medical care.
