Pether, along with a colleague, was detained on fraud charges in Baghdad on April 7, 2021, due to a contractual disagreement between their employer, CME Consulting, and the Central Bank of Iraq.

The engineer was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment and a $16 million fine later that year.

A United Nations working group ruled he had been arbitrarily detained and did not receive his right to a fair trial and due process.

Pether, who has maintained his innocence, claimed he had been forced to sign a pre-written incriminating confession in Arabic.

Pether has now been released on bail. 

He is still subject to legal proceedings in Iraq. 

Foreign Minister Penny Wong welcomed his release after helping raise his matter with Iraqi authorities more than 200 times.

“I understand the personal impact Mr. Pether’s detention has had on him and his family, and I hope that this news offers some relief following years of distress,” she stated.

“Although Mr. Pether still faces legal proceedings in Iraq, this is a positive step forward and comes after continuous advocacy by the Australian Government over several years.

“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.”

Pether and his family had been living in Roscommon, Ireland, before his arrest in Iraq.

Irish Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris said he received a call from Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein informing him of the development in the “long and distressing” saga.

“I was informed that Robert has been released on bail and for the moment he remains in Iraq, but I welcomed this as a first step to his being allowed to return to his family in Roscommon,” he said.

“I also spoke this evening with Robert’s wife, Desree Pether, about this positive development.”

Pether will remain in Iraq while he is on bail. 

The Australian and Irish governments will continue to advocate for Pether throughout his ongoing legal proceedings.

“We will continue to support Mr Pether and his family and to advocate for Mr Pether’s interests and wellbeing,” Wong said.

“We remain concerned about Robert’s health and outstanding charges, but I am hopeful now of a positive resolution in this case,” Harris said.

Pether has shared his distress in an emotional letter penned from behind bars last year, writing about missing crucial moments with his wife Desree and their four children Dylan, Flynn, Oscar and Nala.

“I’ve missed so many milestones,” he wrote.

“Our oldest sons 30th, our other sons 18th and soon 21st and our youngest son’s 16th and 18th. Our youngest two boys have finished school and are now young men. Our daughter was eight when I was arrested and is now 11.

“I’ve missed three Christmases and four Easters, multiple birthdays, three wedding anniversaries, and so much more.

“I want to go home. I want to go back to Australia and hear the birds, swim at the beach, sit and watch the harbour while the ferries come and go and feel the sun on my skin.”