Jamaican pilot jailed in Qatar says government was unwilling to help

Stephens, who worked in Qatar as a first officer for Qatar Airways, was locked up in the muslim nation for nearly three years for sexual molestation of a minor, a charge he has vehemently denied. He claims that vindictiveness led to the accusation, as the complainant disapproved of the friendship the pilot had with her mother and the perceived impact it was having on the relationship of her estranged parents.

In an interview with CVM Television, from a deportation centre in Qatar, Stephens maintained his innocence and claimed that the Government was reluctant to help him when he reached out to the Jamaican Embassy in Kuwait.

“When I contacted the Government, they were a bit reluctant to offer any assistance,” Stephens told CVM Television.

He claimed that the ambassador told him that “the only thing Government has is two guys that can run fast”.

The Government has denied claims that they were not accomodating to Stephens. The Foreign Affairs Ministry said it took several steps through the Embassy in Kuwait to maintain contact with and assist the embattled pilot.

What’s more, the state said it made three formal requests to the Qatari government, asking for a pardon for Stephens.