An Australian engineer detained in Iraq for over five years has spoken publicly for the first time since his release, maintaining his innocence and describing the harrowing conditions he endured while imprisoned. He and his Egyptian colleague were arrested in Baghdad in 2021 during a business trip to resolve a dispute with his engineering firm, remaining in custody despite insisting they were wrongfully held. The engineer recounted near-fatal illness and severe suffering during his detention, emphasizing the emotional weight of finally returning home after years of confinement. His statements offer a rare firsthand account of the ordeal, highlighting both the legal struggle and the personal toll of the experience.
Follow the day’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastRobert Pether has stressed his innocence and recalled his brush with death in his first comments since the Australian engineer departed Iraq after serving more than five years in jail.Pether and his Egyptian colleague Khalid Radwan were detained in Baghdad in 2021 after flying in for a meeting with bank officials to resolve a dispute with his engineering firm, CME Consulting.We were innocent when we were taken on the 7th of April 2021, and we remain innocent today.I was released from prison hours away from death. My body was shutting down after months of critical illness and excruciating pain, but I remained trapped in Iraq.She is an incredible person, someone that I have so much respect for, and being able to come home was incredible. Just the emotion that it brings is, you can’t describe it. I mean, it’s been years. Continue reading...
