Father-of-three Brian Glendinning is now said to have been released (Picture: John Glendinning / SWNS)
A British engineer who was reportedly held in an Iraqi prison over a bank debt has been released, it is claimed.
Brian Glendinning, 43, a construction worker from Kincardine in Fife, was contracted to work at a BP oil refinery in Iraq.
But on September 12, the-father of-three was arrested on an Interpol red notice from Qatar at Baghdad airport over an alleged debt owed to the Qatari National Bank.
Mr Glendinning borrowed £20,000 from Qatar National Bank in 2016 while working in the capital of Doha.
He initially made monthly repayments but was forced to stop working while suffering from mental health issues and struggled to keep them up.
The father-of-three moved home to Kincardine, Fife, to recuperate, and later secured a job at a BP oil refinery in Iraq which was due to start in September.
But after stepping off the plane at Basra airport he was arrested by Interpol.
Radha Stirling, founder of the Interpol and Extradition Reform (Ipex) initiative, said she was ‘thrilled’ to announce the news.
Brian with his son Bailey (Picture: John Glendinning / SWNS)
Brian’s wife Kimberly and his mum Meta have been calling on the Iraqi government to release him (Credits: Katielee Arrowsmith SWNS)
Brian was said to be facing extradition to Qatar over his debts (Picture: FAMILY HANDOUT)
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‘Mr Glendinning’s lawyer Tahseen Alchaabawi gave us the good news this morning. It was an emotional moment for his family and I couldn’t be happier for the Glendinnings,’ she said.
Ms Stirling said Mr Glendinning’s family are currently arranging flights and it is hoped he could be home as soon as Monday night or Wednesday.
However, Ms Stirling said Qatar had not confirmed if the Interpol red notice had been removed, so there could still be a risk that Mr Glendinning could be arrested en route back to Scotland.
A class action lawsuit will now be launched against Interpol for what Ipex says is a ‘consistent and repetitive’ abuse of power.
Ms Stirling added: ‘Iraq was furnished with evidence from Qatar National Bank last week to prove the extradition was over bank debt.
‘Consumer debt does not meet the criteria for extradition, but it was highly likely Iraq would have succumbed to pressure from Qatar and handed him over anyway.
‘Brian is free due to a combination of lobbying and media efforts, negotiating and settling the debt with QNB and strong diplomatic representations.
‘We are proud to have successfully resolved another case of Interpol abuse. On a personal note, I will now always remember my birthday as the day Brian was freed. This was the best present I could have hoped for’.
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His family are hoping for him to return to the UK by the start of this week.
