The family of an Australian engineer jailed in Baghdad has pleaded for his release after a picture emerged of his deteriorating health.
Robert Pether was sentenced to five years in prison by an Iraqi court over a contract dispute between his employer and the country's Central Bank.
Pether, 47, who has lived in Dubai with his family for the past 11 years, was also ordered to pay $12 million along with his colleague Khaled Radwan, from Egypt, who also remains detained.
Pether’s family has repeated a call for his release, this time on medical grounds after a picture was released showing his ill health.
It’s absolutely shocking for us to see the state of him
Desree Pether
His family and doctor believe this is a direct result of a botched attempt to remove moles from his back.
“It’s absolutely shocking for us to see the state of him. We couldn’t show the picture to our youngest daughter,” said Pether’s wife, Desree.
“We’ve tried to stay calm but it’s just heartbreaking when you see someone you love looking like that.
“His immune system is compromised and he’s in a crowded cell, so if anyone comes in with a virus he is going to be in big trouble.”
She hit out at the authorities for the surgery her husband received, which has, in the opinion of her Pether's regular doctor, left him seriously worse off than before.
“He thought it was just going to be bunch of biopsies, to remove tissue, which ended up with him having a large mole removed from the bottom of his spine, which is not what he consented to,” Mrs Pether said.
“He was left with a 15-centimetre scar at the bottom of his spine, which immediately got infected and which took him two weeks to recover from.
“His immune system is completely shot and he is continuing to lose weight.”
She said the picture of her husband, taken for his own doctor’s reference, has led the family to fear he could have once again developed a melanoma, a type of skin cancer he was treated for in the past.
Pether’s doctor wrote a letter of concern to the Australian government last month, warning them about the risk posed to his health following the surgery he received in Iraq.
“Robert Pether should be, and should have already been, released as a matter of urgency in order to have surgery safely in an optimal environment, and most importantly, performed by experts,” wrote his doctor.
“Robert Pether is imprisoned in a 14ft cell with no windows and only one door with 21 other men.
“To perform surgery on any patient and send them back into that environment is unconscionable.”
How the case unfolded
Pether was arrested 17 months ago when he was called to Iraq for what he believed to be a straightforward business meeting to discuss a contract dispute.
However, he was detained during the meeting and has remained jailed ever since.
He had been working in Dubai as an engineer for CME Consulting, a company that was contracted to work on the headquarters of the Central Bank of Iraq, on the banks of the Tigris.
Several bail attempts were subsequently rejected before he was sentenced in August of last year.
The National has contacted CME Consulting for comment.
A $33m contract, awarded to CME, is at the heart of the dispute.
The project was suspended after a year, with Iraq’s war with ISIS extremists and plummeting oil prices said to be the main reasons.
Work resumed in 2018, with CME Consulting completing 39 of the 48 months stipulated in their contract before payments were withheld.
The Central Bank also asked CME to extend the contract by three months to make up for work suspended during the Covid-19 restrictions last year.
CME was told by the banking regulator that it would not pay for the extension, which led to the company objecting on the grounds the suspension was not its decision.
Pether was invited in April to attend what he thought was a routine meeting at the Baghdad bank to discuss the project.
Instead, he was arrested along with Mr Zaghlol, and was held in custody before receiving the same prison sentence in August.
The bank also called for CME to return $12m, the same amount Pether and his colleague were fined, on the grounds the sum was for “extra payments”.
Company%20profile
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Getting there
The flights
Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.
The stay
Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net
Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama
Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com
Fitness problems in men's tennis
Andy Murray - hip
Novak Djokovic - elbow
Roger Federer - back
Stan Wawrinka - knee
Kei Nishikori - wrist
Marin Cilic - adductor
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Defined benefit and defined contribution schemes explained
Defined Benefit Plan (DB)
A defined benefit plan is where the benefit is defined by a formula, typically length of service to and salary at date of leaving.
Defined Contribution Plan (DC)
A defined contribution plan is where the benefit depends on the amount of money put into the plan for an employee, and how much investment return is earned on those contributions.
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Letstango.com
Started: June 2013
Founder: Alex Tchablakian
Based: Dubai
Industry: e-commerce
Initial investment: Dh10 million
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month
Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face
The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.
The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.
Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.
"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.
Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.
The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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SPEC%20SHEET
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
UJDA CHAMAN
Produced: Panorama Studios International
Directed: Abhishek Pathak
Cast: Sunny Singh, Maanvi Gagroo, Grusha Kapoor, Saurabh Shukla
Rating: 3.5 /5 stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The most expensive investment mistake you will ever make
When is the best time to start saving in a pension? The answer is simple – at the earliest possible moment. The first pound, euro, dollar or dirham you invest is the most valuable, as it has so much longer to grow in value. If you start in your twenties, it could be invested for 40 years or more, which means you have decades for compound interest to work its magic.
“You get growth upon growth upon growth, followed by more growth. The earlier you start the process, the more it will all roll up,” says Chris Davies, chartered financial planner at The Fry Group in Dubai.
This table shows how much you would have in your pension at age 65, depending on when you start and how much you pay in (it assumes your investments grow 7 per cent a year after charges and you have no other savings).
|
Age
|
$250 a month
|
$500 a month
|
$1,000 a month
|
|
25
|
$640,829
|
$1,281,657
|
$2,563,315
|
|
35
|
$303,219
|
$606,439
|
$1,212,877
|
|
45
|
$131,596
|
$263,191
|
$526,382
|
|
55
|
$44,351
|
$88,702
|
$177,403
|
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Company%20profile
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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Veil (Object Lessons)
Rafia Zakaria
Bloomsbury Academic
