Judge left frustrated as translator’s absence delays justice

http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/suffolk_judge_left_frustrated_as_translator_s_absence_delays_justice_1_1734842 
December 7, 2012

Suffolk: Judge left frustrated as translator’s absence delays justice 
Judge frustrated at lack of interpreter 
A judge has expressed his frustration with a court interpreter system after a hearing had to be adjourned when a translator failed to attend a Suffolk court.

Ipswich Crown Court judge David Goodin said he was “astounded” at the non-attendance of a Bengali interpreter who had been booked by the court to act as translator for a 27-year-old man accused of attempting to rape a woman in an alleyway in Newmarket in August. 

“Astonishingly and disgracefully for justice, no interpreter has appeared and in these circumstances we can’t make any progress with the case today,” said the judge.

“This is yet another example of interpreters failing to appear.” 

Judge Goodin was forced to adjourn the plea and direction hearing until today after court staff were unable to ascertain the whereabouts of the translator. 

The case is the latest example of problems courts around the country have had in getting interpreters since Applied Language Solutions took over a Government contract in January. 

Earlier this year the Ministry of Justice accepted there had been problems with the court interpreter system in the first few weeks of the contract but claimed the situation had improved. 

Before Ipswich Crown Court yesterday was Jakir Hussain, of Bahram Close, Newmarket, who is accused of attempting to rape a 24-year-old woman in an alleyway between the High Street and Rowley Drive in August.