Qatar court acquits 17 Pinoys of oil pilferage

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines – A court in Qatar has acquitted 17 Filipino seafarers accused by their employer of stealing fuel from their ship.

A story published in Gulf Times and written by Filipino reporter Joey Aguilar said the court dismissed the case against the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) for lack of evidence.

In its ruling, the Court of First Instance in Doha held there was no proof that the OFWs had committed fuel theft.

The court initially acquitted 10 of the seafarers who served as chef and maintenance crew of the ship. However, the court later issued another decision, exonerating seven others for lack of evidence.

Philippine Ambassador to Doha Crescente Relacion reported that the Filipino sailors have been repatriated.

“Our kababayans were acquitted because there was no concrete evidence to support the charges that could withstand the scrutiny of the court,” Relacion said.

The ambassador lauded the Qatar court for its decision “considering the fact that the plaintiff in the case is an oil giant.” 

Leopoldo de Jesus, spokesperson for the Philippine Overseas Labor Office-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (POLO-OWWA) in Doha, said the seafarers were provided with living quarters as they awaited the verdict.

POLO-OWWA facilitated the workers’ repatriation with the help of their recruitment agency.