Read the emotional letter written by Australian father Robert Pether from his Iraqi prison cell as he rot behind bars after being ‘abandoned’ by Anthony Albanese

A father-of-four has written an emotional letter from his prison cell in Iraq, where he was held in appalling conditions for three years.

Australian engineer Robert Pether was sentenced to five years in prison and a $16 million fine in April 2021 after trying to get paid by the Iraqi government for work he did in the country.

Mr Pether was arrested on charges of fraud; allegations he has vehemently denied.

After spending three years in prison in Baghdad, there are serious concerns for Mr Pether’s physical and mental well-being.

Last week, his wife Desree Pether made a direct plea to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong that ‘more needs to be done’.

In an emotional letter, Mr Pether revealed he feels “abandoned” by the Australian government and fears he will never return home.

In an emotional letter (pictured), Mr Pether revealed he feels ‘abandoned’ by the Australian government and fears he will never return home.

“I have spent three years pleading with Prime Minister Albanese and Foreign Minister Wong to do whatever they can to help me and get me home,” he wrote.

‘So far I just feel abandoned. I’m sick and I’m afraid I won’t survive this ordeal much longer.

‘I want to go back to Australia and hear the birds, swim on the beach, sit and watch the harbor as the ferries come and go and feel the sun on my skin.’

Mr Pether and an Egyptian colleague Khalid Radwan were arrested after being lured to an office with the promise of resolving a dispute over work they had done at the billion-dollar Central Bank of Iraq.

In a trial that lasted just fifteen minutes, the pair were found guilty of cheating.

“I was forced to sign a pre-written, incriminating confession in Arabic, a language I do not read or understand, after being locked in a closet, dehydrated and starving,” he said.

“There was no way to defend myself.”

Mr Pether, who has always maintained his innocence, now has access to an Arabic-speaking lawyer who is ‘doing his best’ to help.

His wife said she has had to “talk him back from the edge so many times” since he was first put behind bars.

“Our children need their dad, and I need him – even though he’s just a phone call away, he’s still there for them,” she told the ABC news.

“I think that’s where he gets his strength.”

His wife said she has had to “talk him back from the edge so many times” since he was first put behind bars

Mr Pether (pictured) and an Egyptian colleague Khalid Radwan were arrested after being lured to an office with the promise of resolving a dispute over work they had done on the $1 billion Central Bank of Iraq.

His treatment has drawn condemnation from the UN, which found 30 violations of international law in the case and classified Mr Pether as a ‘hostage’.

Ms Pether shared more about her own fraught condition in an emotional Facebook post on Tuesday, revealing the family are struggling to cope.

‘I miss him. Always,” she wrote.

“He should not continue to be unlawfully imprisoned in #iraq. He should NEVER have been trapped, arrested and imprisoned! The treatment of two innocent men is absolutely horrific!’

Mr Pether said he has “missed so many milestones” while in lockdown, pleading with his own government to do “whatever it can”.

“Our youngest two boys have finished school and are now young men. Our daughter was eight when I was arrested and is now 11,” he said.

‘I’ve missed three Christmases and four Easters, several birthdays, three wedding anniversaries and so much more. I want to go home.’

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Prime Minister and Department of Home Affairs for comment.