Pether and Zaghloul were held for five months before going to trial, where a judge deliberated for 15 minutes before convicting them.

Robert Pether (third from left) and his family pictured before his imprisonment. Source: Supplied / Desree Pether

Pether wrote in a letter last year that he was worried he would “not survive this ordeal much longer” amid growing concerns over his health.

‘A very small step in the right direction’

“Enough is enough. Three international courts have ruled in his EMPLOYER’S favour and said there is no grounds for imprisonment and also the UN report from 2022 found that he was being used for leverage.”

“We are so grateful to everyone who contributed to this happening.”

‘This is a positive development’

“I want to thank Australian officials for their tireless work on Mr Pether’s case, including Australia’s special envoy who travelled to Iraq in recent weeks to negotiate for this outcome.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong described Robert Pether’s release on bail as a “positive development”. Source: AAP / Dominic Giannini

Irish media also reported news of Pether’s release on Friday. He and his wife, Desree, had been living in Ireland for several years.