Robert Pether is a 50-year-old Australian civil engineer. Having languished for four arduous years in an Iraqi prison, he has now been released. Though Pether was running the construction of Iraq’s Central Bank’s new headquarters when his misadventures led him into the legal system. He and his then-Egyptian colleague, Khalid Zaghoul Radwan, were charged with a range of felonies. They both got convicted of fraud and deception related to their project work.
Pether’s release followed her being granted bail late Thursday night local time. His family have been doggedly campaigning for his release. They had earlier solicited support from the Irish government to advocate for his release. After his release, Pether was forced to find safety in a secret safe house tucked away inside Baghdad. His health, though, is still a big question mark.
Legal Troubles in Iraq
Pether’s legal nightmare started when he was arrested on charges of fraud related to the rebuilding project in Baghdad. An Iraqi military judge determined that both him and Radwan were guilty, resulting in both being imprisoned. Pether insists that he was forced to sign a confession written in Arabic, a language he cannot read.
Robert’s wife, Desree Pether, said the family’s ordeal is far from over. “All we know is that he is out of the prison, and I guess in a state of limbo,” she said. The family’s financial situation has deteriorated significantly as they have struggled to cover legal fees and accommodation costs during Robert’s incarceration.
“Desree has called attention to the incredibly urgent medical care her husband deserves. ‘We really just need to get him out of there and back to Ireland or Australia where he can get the appropriate medical care that he needs so desperately,’ she stated.”
A Distressing Transformation
During his four years in prison, especially during the past eight months, his drastic physical deterioration has alarmed his family. Desree painted an incredibly painful portrait of her husband’s unrecognizable release, when he looked “like a ghost.”
“He’s barely able to walk, he’s very weak,” she shared. His continued imprisonment has taken an immense toll on his health. Desree is terrified that Robert was able to incur the ailment of lung cancer while imprisoned.
“The kids were certainly shocked when they saw him and saw what he looked like,” Desree recalled, reflecting on the emotional turmoil experienced by their children. “That was hard for them to see their father looking like that,” she added.
Hopes and Concerns Ahead
Today’s news of Robert Pether’s release will be the first step in giving hope to his family. Worries about his health continue to bubble under the surface. Desree stated, “It’s a small step in the right direction, but we’re very, very worried about his health.”
Ireland’s Tánaiste, Simon Harris, has been actively involved in advocating for Pether’s return home. “We will not rest until we get him back home to Roscommon and to his family,” Harris declared after speaking with Robert directly following his release.
And though this difficult chapter is just beginning, the family’s resolve to get Robert home safe never will wane. “They’re just so numb at this point. There’s been so many blows. Until we actually get him home and can physically hug him, it’ll still be a bit surreal for them,” Desree explained.
