Conor Howard: Kenny MacAskill MP to petition Foreign Secretary as East Lothian man still locked up in Greek jail over £10 grinder

Conor Howard, 27, is at the centre of a bizarre legal nightmare in Corfu.

East Lothian MP Kenny MacAskill, has called on the Foreign Secretary to intervene in the case of a Tranent man banged up in jail after Qatari officials found a cannabis grinder in his luggage.

Conor Howard bought the £10 device legally from a shop in Australia almost a year ago, and insists it was a joke gift for a friend.

But during his layover in Qatar on his return trip to Scotland in October, the 27-year-old was detained and questioned for six hours by officials who found the grinder in his hand luggage.

East Lothian MP Kenny MacAskill, has called on the Foreign Secretary to intervene in the case of a Tranent man banged up in jail after Qatari officials found a herb grinder in his luggage.

Conor thought his brush with Middle Eastern justice was over when he was eventually allowed to return to Scotland, but was then detained in Greece in late August this year when he attempted to join his parents on a holiday in Corfu.

Unbeknownst to Conor, Qatari officials had placed him on an international most-wanted list in July, and the project manager is languishing in a Greek jail, facing extradition to Qatar.

Now his local MP, Kenny MacAskill, called on the Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, to “push harder and faster” to get Conor home.

“I’ve had a conversation with a minister,” Mr McAskill told the BBC, “I appreciate that there are sensitivities because we’re dealing with the Qatar government, but I do think we have to push harder and faster, which is why I’m seeking a meeting with Dominic Raab the Foreign Secretary.

Conor thought his brush with Middle Eastern justice was over when he was eventually allowed to return to Scotland, but was then detained in Greece in late August this year when he attempted to join his parents on a holiday in Corfu.

“The Greeks do require to accept the warrant that’s issued, it’s Qatar that’s issued this warrant and it’s Qatar that’s got to solve this problem,” he insisted.

“I cannot for the life of me see why they would wish to have Conor back in their custody.

“He’s not committed any criminal offence, and even if they view this as something that they disapprove of, it is so trivial, it cannot merit sending Qatari police officers and a plane to Corfu to bring him back to Qatar.

“I do think the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has to push further and harder for a British citizen who is detained in custody in Greece, for no reason whatsoever, other than some administrative error,” he finished.

Speaking from Corfu, Conor’s mum Adele and step father Robert Young, described the situation as a “nightmare”.

“It’s so surreal that it’s happened,” said Robert, “We’ve only seen him through prison bars so far.

“The political side of it is crazy,” he added, “Qatar is a very rich country and Greece is just upholding the law for them so they don’t fall out with each other - they just keep funding whatever they’re funding.

“We hope the campaign is 100 per cent successful and they realise their mistake - that they’ll see the nonsense.”

“What he’s done is nothing,” insisted mum Adele, “It’s not a crime in Greece and it’s not a crime in Britain.”

A GoFundMe page set up by Conor's friends to pay for legal assistance has raised more than £12,000.

A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development spokesperson said: “We are supporting Mr Howard and his family following his arrest in Corfu and are in contact with the Greek authorities.

"Our staff have spoken to Conor on the phone to help him access legal advice and are also keeping Mr MacAskill up to date on the case.”

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