Robert Pether, a 51‑year‑old Australian engineer, was arrested in April 2021 on fraud charges tied to the construction of the new Central Bank of Iraq headquarters. He was sentenced to five years in prison and a $16 million fine.

Pether has always denied the accusations, insisting the charges were fabricated because of a bitter dispute over the building project.

He spent over four years in an Iraqi prison before being released in June 2025. Although freed, travel restrictions kept him in Iraq until the Australian government arranged his departure.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed that Pether had left Baghdad and was now heading to Ireland to reunite with his family. Wong said Australia had made more than 280 representations to Iraqi officials and that no money was paid in relation to the case.

Pether’s wife, Desree, said she was “hugely relieved” and described the whole experience as an “absolute nightmare”.

Greens leader David Shoebridge criticised the length of the case, saying Australia missed chances to pressure Iraq and that the central bank was using Pether as leverage to extract money.

Former detainee and academic Kylie Moore‑Gilbert praised the outcome, noting that the release was achieved solely through diplomatic effort, without any payment, and called it a success despite the delay.