A KINCARDINE dad has been jailed in Iraq and is facing extradition to Qatar over missing loan payments.

Brian Glendinning, 43, had to leave his wife, Kimberly, his three kids and his grand-daughter in Scotland while he went to start a new job there,

However, when he flew to Basra, in Iraq, he was detained on an Interpol red notice over an unpaid £20,000 loan.

Now, a month after Brian was jailed, his family are desperate for him to be allowed to return home before he is extradited to Qatar where he faces a prison sentence.

His brother, John, said: “Brian is being treated like a crime lord; he’s held and detained until Qatar says: 'bring him over', and when he is he’s got two years in jail.

“I’m scared and worried I’m not going to see my brother. His wife’s worried she won’t see her husband; his kids are worried, and my mum is worried we’re never going to see him again because of the reality of, if he does go to Qatar, what can happen there.”

Brian was working in Qatar in 2016 when he took out the loan and made regular repayments. Later in the year, he fell ill, lost his job and the payments stopped.

John believes that despite not making payments, Brian was in regular contact with the bank until communications broke down. In 2017, Qatar sentenced him in his absence.

He continued: “Brian’s mental health is in tatters, he doesn’t know if he’s getting home, and he doesn’t know when he’ll get to see his kids next.

"He’s in a cell right now, he’s in prison right now.

“I don’t know if my brother will be the same person when he comes home.”

John has been hit hard by his brother’s imprisonment. He said: “I got the horrible phone call from my father, and I just broke down, I absolutely broke down because Brian’s my big brother but he’s my best pal.

“I’ve tried to remain the rock of the family. I’ve been the main contact for his lawyer in Iraq and the embassy. Brian’s asked that I’m the one that’s the main contact because we’re similar, driven people and we don’t stop. Especially when it’s your loved one that you’re fighting for.

“It’s just a rollercoaster of emotions, we had certain dates in our head when we thought something big was going to happen to get Brian home only for those dates to be crushed. It just adds even more numbness. I can’t believe I’m discussing this; it still doesn’t feel real.”

They are now raising money to help with the legal costs of the ordeal.

He added: “We wouldn’t dare ask anybody to pay the loan, a loan that you take out you must pay back yourself, but our legal costs have hit £30,000 right now. We’re fighting to get Brian, not extradited, to get him home and let him deal with the loan with Qatar back here.”

Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Doha and IPEX, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to Interpol reform, has taken on the case and John says she has been a "godsend".

She said: “Typically, when anyone agrees to take a loan from QNB (Qatar National Bank), they are required to submit a security cheque for the total amount of the loan. If they fall behind in their payments, the bank will cash that security cheque, which inevitably bounces.

“The bank then accuses the debtor of fraud, and claims that they are owed the total principal of the loan, regardless of how much it has already been paid down through months of instalments.

“We have seen government support for British expats in the Gulf steadily evaporating as Qatari, Saudi, and Emirati investment flows into the UK. There is no doubt that the Foreign Office can successfully intervene to secure Brian’s release but we will need overwhelming public support to make sure that happens.”

Douglas Chapman, the MP for Dunfermline and West Fife is now pursuing the case. Mr Chapman said: “We have been in touch with both the family here and the FCDO in London and Baghdad.

“As far as we know, the case still has some sensitivities which I cannot share; however, through the efforts of Brian’s family, their legal people on the ground in Iraq and with the support of the FCDO, we are trying to secure Mr Glendinning’s release and his safe return home to Scotland.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson added: “We are providing support to a British man who has been arrested in Iraq and are in touch with the local authorities.”

To donate to Brian’s family and help them with their growing legal fees, visit https://gofund.me/4606479c