World · Middle East · 1 hr ago
Australian engineer Robert Pether arrives in Ireland after leaving Iraq
Australian engineer Robert Pether has arrived in Ireland after being allowed to leave Iraq, where he was arrested in 2021.
He had worked on a project to rebuild the Central Bank of Iraq's headquarters in Baghdad.
The bank accused Pether and a colleague of stealing money, but the two men said the case arose from a contract dispute.
They were sentenced to five years in prison and fined together, then Pether was conditionally released last year but barred from leaving Iraq.
The United Nations said his detention violated international law, and an international arbitration court later found the bank at fault in its dispute with Pether's employer.
Pether thanked his wife and children, who live in Ireland, and Australia's foreign minister said Australian and Irish authorities had worked for years to secure his release.
The sources do not say what legal steps, if any, will follow.
Australian engineer Robert Pether arrived in Ireland after being allowed to leave Iraq, where he had been detained for five years.
Pether was jailed in 2021 with a colleague after a contract dispute involving the Central Bank of Iraq.
The UN said his detention was illegal, and an international court ruled Iraq’s central bank was at fault in its dispute with Pether’s employer.
Pether was reunited with his family at Dublin Airport on Monday morning, local time.
Australia’s foreign minister said his release followed years of advocacy by Canberra and Irish authorities.
- Who
- Australian engineer Robert Pether, his family, and authorities in Australia and Ireland.
- What
- Pether arrived in Ireland after being allowed to leave Iraq, where he had been detained.
- When
- Monday morning, local time; the article was published on 12 October 2026.
- Where
- Dublin Airport, Ireland; Pether had been detained in Iraq.
- Why
- He was jailed over fraud charges linked to a contract dispute involving his employer and the Central Bank of Iraq.
Central Bank of Iraq
Robert Pether and CME Consulting
Accusation
Central Bank of Iraq
The bank accused Pether and his colleague of stealing money from a project.
Robert Pether and CME Consulting
Pether and his colleague were jailed after a contract dispute involving CME Consulting and the bank.
Responsibility for the dispute
Central Bank of Iraq
The bank made the theft accusation against the two men.
Robert Pether and CME Consulting
The International Chamber of Commerce’s Court of Arbitration ruled the bank was at fault in its dispute with CME and ordered it to pay the company $13m.
Pether took on a rebuild of the Central Bank of Iraq’s Baghdad headquarters.
Pether and CME Consulting colleague Khalid Radwan were jailed on fraud charges after a dispute involving the bank.
Pether was conditionally released from prison but barred from leaving Iraq.
Pether arrived at Dublin Airport and was reunited with his family.
- Age
- 51
- Colleague
- Egyptian engineer Khalid Radwan
- Jail sentence
- Five years for each man
- Joint fine
- $12m (A$18.4m, £8.8m)
- Arbitration ruling
- Iraq’s central bank was ordered to pay CME $13m in 2023
What people are saying
Our children lost years with their dad,
I spoke to Mr Pether shortly before his departure from Baghdad and am pleased he is now free to move forward with his life,
I'm hugely relieved,
They watched their mum fight every day to try and bring me home. They grew up with uncertainty, fear and circumstances that no child should ever have to carry.
Sources
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