Robert Pether Granted Bail, Still Barred From Leaving Iraq

Robert Pether, an Australian-born engineer and Irish resident, has been conditionally released on bail in Iraq after serving over four years in jail following a contract dispute involving his employer CME Consulting and the Central Bank of Iraq. Arrested in 2021 alongside his Egyptian colleague Khaled Radwan, Pether was sentenced to five years and fined $12 million on fraud charges, amidst widespread criticism of the trial's fairness from sources including the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. His release, confirmed by both Irish Tánaiste Simon Harris and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, is seen as a positive step, though Pether remains in Iraq under a travel ban as legal proceedings continue. Pether's family and international advocates continue to press for his full release and return home, citing his worsening health and the toll of his detention. The case has attracted significant international attention and ongoing diplomatic efforts from both Ireland and Australia. Despite being out on bail, major concerns remain about his health and the unresolved legal situation.