An Australian engineer who was detained in Iraq has been sentenced to five years in jail.
Rob Pether was told by a court in Baghdad on Wednesday he would remain in jail until 2026.
The 46-year-old, who lived in Dubai with his wife and children, was said to be devastated at the sentence.
The case against him relates to his Dubai-based company's work for the Iraq government.
His family said the charges were at no point clearly laid out - but related to his employer's work.
"It broke my heart to have to tell our children what had happened," his wife Desree Pether said, speaking exclusively to The National.
Our eight-year-old daughter Nala turned round to me and said 'but Mummy that means I will be 13 when I see Daddy again
Desree Pether,
wife of Robert Pether
Mr Pether worked as an engineer for the company in Dubai, which was contracted to work on the Zaha Hadid-designed Central Bank of Iraq headquarters on the banks of the Tigris River.
The father of three has remained in custody since then, along with Egyptian colleague, Khalid Zaghlol and several bail applications have been rejected despite no charges being presented to him.
He travelled extensively in the region and had lived in Dubai for 10 years.
"Our eight-year-old daughter Nala turned round to me and said 'but Mummy that means I will be 13 when I see daddy again'.
"We are devastated and living in hell right now.
"I am just in shock this could happen. All I can say for sure right now is we will definitely be appealing against it."
Ms Pether said she was waiting for an update on the legal proceedings from the Australian Embassy before commenting further.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said it understood Mr Pether, along with an Egyptian colleague, was found guilty of fraud in an Iraqi court and sentenced to five years imprisonment and jointly fined $12million.
"DFAT has made repeated representations to the Iraqi Government on Mr Pether’s case, including to seek clarity on the nature of the charges, related to a business dispute," said a representative.
"The Foreign Minister has written and spoken to her Iraqi counterpart to advocate for Mr Pether’s case in the strongest terms.
"The Australian Government cannot intervene in other governments’ judicial processes. DFAT continues to provide consular assistance to Mr Pether and his family."
CME Consulting, Mr Pether’s employer who is providing him with a lawyer in Iraq, has not responded to emails and calls since he was detained.
The dispute surrounds a $33 million contract awarded to CME Consulting in 2015.
Plummeting oil prices on the international market and Iraq’s war with extremist group ISIS resulted in a lack of funding, which led to the suspension of the project a year later.
Work resumed on the project in 2018. CME Consulting then worked for 39 of the 48 months stipulated in the contract. It was paid for 32 months before payments were withheld.
CME was asked by the Central Bank to extend the contract for three months to make up for work suspended during the coronavirus restrictions last year.
The bank informed CME it would not pay for the extension, which led to the company objecting as it said the suspension was not its decision.
The bank is also asking for $12 million to be returned, describing the sum as “extra payments”.
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.
Rooney's club record
At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17
At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Fight card
1. Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) v Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
2. Featherweight: Hussein Salim (IRQ) v Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
3. Catchweight 80kg: Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Khamza Yamadaev (RUS)
4. Lightweight: Ho Taek-oh (KOR) v Ronald Girones (CUB)
5. Lightweight: Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) v Damien Lapilus (FRA)
6. Bantamweight: Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) v Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
7. Featherweight: Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
8. Flyweight: Shannon Ross (TUR) v Donovon Freelow (USA)
9. Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (UAE) v Dan Collins (GBR)
10. Catchweight 73kg: Islam Mamedov (RUS) v Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM)
11. Bantamweight World title: Jaures Dea (CAM) v Xavier Alaoui (MAR)
12. Flyweight World title: Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
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
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
RESULT
Los Angeles Galaxy 2 Manchester United 5
Galaxy: Dos Santos (79', 88')
United: Rashford (2', 20'), Fellaini (26'), Mkhitaryan (67'), Martial (72')
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 (PA) | US$95,000 | (Dirt) 2,000m
7.05pm: Meydan Classic Listed (TB) ) | $175,000) | (Turf) 1,600m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) ) | $135,000 ) | (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy Group 3 (TB) ) | $300,000) | (T) 2,810m
8.50pm: Curlin Handicap Listed (TB)) | $160,000) | (D) 2,000m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB)) | $175,000) | (T) 1,400m
10pm: Handicap (TB) ) | $135,000 ) | (T) 2,000m
