A Sydney father and mechanical engineer who was detained in an Iraqi prison for almost four years is still in limbo as conflict in the Middle East escalates.
Robert Pether had been living in a heavily-guarded facility on the outskirts of Baghdad since he was arrested while helping the war-ravaged country rebuild on April 7, 2021.
It was confirmed in early June that he would be released on bail, with the breakthrough lauded by Foreign Minister Penny Wong at the time.
‘His case has been raised with Iraqi authorities over 200 times, including at the highest level by the Prime Minister and myself,’ Senator Wong said.
‘I want to thank Australian officials for their tireless work on Mr Pether’s case.’
But, three weeks later, concerns have grown regarding the engineer’s welfare after the Albanese government was accused of leaving him stranded.
Senator David Shoebridge told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday that the engineer’s security was even more at risk amid the violent escalations in the Middle East.
‘I’m advised that, since DFAT accompanied Robert from his prison release on June 5, there’s been effectively no communication,’ he said.
Aussie mechanical engineer Robert Pether (pictured in 2022) was released from an Iraqi prison on bail three weeks ago and is reportedly now stranded in Iraq
The father-of-three (pictured with his children) was arrested in 2021 while he was visiting Baghdad to discuss the construction cost of a new HQ for Central Bank of Iraq
The Greens politician, who has long been an advocate for Mr Pether, said this was ‘extremely troubling’, particular with the heightened tensions in the region.
‘Robert was already in a perilous situation, having been held to ransom by the Iraqi authorities. Of course, his security is even more at risk with the ongoing violent escalations in the region,’ he said.
Shoebridge said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) had previously kept close communication with Mr Pether prior to his release.
‘The dramatic change in behavior is hard to understand,’ he said.
‘In the three weeks since Robert’s release, he’s been in an incredibly vulnerable situation with no financial support, no safe accommodation and no identity documents.
‘At a minimum, you would expect Australia’s embassy in Iraq to be urgently addressing these basic needs so that Robert is safe and he has his documentation in place.’
A DFAT spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia it was continuing to provide ‘consular assistance’ to Mr Pether in Iraq.
In February this year, Mr Pether wrote a letter where he said he was terrified he would never again see his wife Desree (pictured, left) and their children
Since he was released on bail, an Australian senator has sounded the alarm that Mr Pether (pictured) has not received support from the federal government
‘The Australian Government continues to advocate for Mr Pether to be reunited with his family on humanitarian grounds,’ they said.
‘The Australian Embassy in Baghdad is open and is providing consular assistance to Australians who require it.
‘For privacy reasons we are unable to provide further comments.’
Ms Wong told Daily Mail Australia Mr Pether’s case had been raised with Iraqi authorities more than 200 times, including by the Prime Minister and herself.
‘I know the personal toll Mr Pether’s detention has taken on him and his family and hope this news brings a measure of relief after years of distress,’ she said.
‘While Mr Pether remains subject to legal proceedings in Iraq, this is a positive development and follows persistent Australian Government advocacy over many 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.
‘We will continue to support Mr Pether and his family and to advocate for Mr Pether’s interests and wellbeing.’
It was confirmed in early June that he would be released on bail , with the breakthrough lauded by Foreign Minister Penny Wong at the time.
Shoebridge said Mr Pether should not be left vulnerable.
‘It’s moments of crisis where you need support from Australia’s network of embassies, which has only been highlighted in Robert’s case,’ he said.
‘That, however, is not a sufficient reason to leave somebody with such clear vulnerability as Robert without the support they need.
‘Robert’s facing an ongoing travel ban from the Iraqi authorities who continue to hold him as a form of commercial blackmail.’
Pether had travelled to Baghdad in 2021 to discuss a multimillion-dollar blowout in the cost of building a new headquarters for the government-owned Central Bank of Iraq.
He was charged with deception and was sentenced to five years behind bars and a $16million fine. Pether has always maintained his innocence.
Mr Pether shared his fears he would die in prison in a letter first published by this publication amid a life-threatening battle with melanoma and a lung condition.
‘Robert is suffering the health consequences of prolonged, brutal confinement,’ Shoebridge said.
Greens Senator David Shoebridge (pictured) said there was ‘effectively no communication’
‘There are very real concerns that this health condition, that his lung condition, may be malignant, and that only adds to the stress.’
Shoebridge said he had contacted the foreign minister on Tuesday, calling for the department to ‘actively intervene’ and provide Mr Pether with basic essentials.
In his February letter, Mr Pether said he was worried he would never see his wife, Desree, or children, Flynn, 20, Oscar, 18, and Nala, 11, again.
The engineer claimed he was unlawfully held captive as part of a sinister plot to extort millions of dollars from his boss’s construction company.
A United Nations report on arbitrary detention from 2022 concluded the detention of Mr Pether was ‘being used to exercise leverage in a commercial transaction, in violation of international law’.
It also detailed allegations Mr Pether was subject to extreme cold, humiliation, threats of death and forms of psychological abuse, including being shown a torture room.
