Scot facing extradition to Qatar bailed from Greek jail

A Scottish man detained in Greece on drug trafficking charges has been granted bail, but could still face extradition to Qatar.

Conor Howard, from Tranent, was travelling through Qatar airport last year when he was arrested after a small cannabis grinder was found in his luggage.

He was later freed, but four weeks ago while on holiday in Greece the 27-year-old was arrested again, and now his family are fighting to bring him home.

Speaking to STV News his father Robert Young said: “That is the last place anyone wants one of their children to be arrested in, we had already been through that part with him, when he was arrested in October, so as far as everyone was concerned that was it finished.”

Conor, who had been travelling home from working in Australia when the incident took place, was allowed to travel back home to Scotland.

However, unbeknown to him, he was tried in his absence and found guilty in a Qatari court.

The engineer, who insists the grinder was bought as a joke gift for a friend, was sentenced to a year behind bars there.

So when he flew to Corfu four weeks ago to visit his family he was arrested by Greek authorities, placed in a holding cell and faced extradition back to Qatar.

Robert said: “When he told us we thought he was having a laugh, an international arrest warrant for an engineer from Tranent? No.

On Thursday Conor was released on Bail and his family are relieved but now he faces a six week travel ban before his next hearing on the island in November.

Radha Stirling, from campaign group Detained in Dubai said: “If he’s not going to receive a fair hearing in Qatar, then Greece are going to find it hard to extradite him back. So in this time it is really for Qatar to submit their evidence and plead their case to the Greek authorities.”

He can leave prison on Friday, when he will be reunited with his parents on the island and it is something they say they can’t wait any longer for.