Australian Engineer Freed After Five Years Jailed in Iraq

Robert Pether, an Australian engineer, has spoken out for the first time since his release from over five years of imprisonment in Iraq. Pether, along with his Egyptian colleague Khalid Radwan, was detained in Baghdad in April 2021 following a meeting with bank officials to resolve a dispute involving his engineering firm, CME Consulting.

Pether has maintained his innocence throughout his detention, describing his release as a return from the brink of death. He detailed experiencing critical illness and excruciating pain during his time in jail, emphasizing that he and his colleague were innocent when taken and remain so. The engineer expressed profound gratitude for his return home, highlighting the emotional impact of his long ordeal.