23/10/2014
Charity's fear
over sex fiend interpreter
A charity that supports women affected
by sexual abuse has expressed "deep concern" after it emerged a
convicted sex attacker acted as a translator for vulnerable female asylum
seekers.
The
Evening Times exclusively revealed last night that Misrak Eyob has access to
asylum seekers represented by city lawyers Katani and Co.
The
24-year-old Eritrean was jailed for four years in 2009 for attempted rape and
told he must be supervised for a further two years on his release.
Dawn
Fyfe, director of Glasgow-based Say Woman, said: "We would be concerned
that someone who has a conviction for sex offending would not only have access
to survivors of sexual abuse but would be responsible for interpreting their
experiences.
"We
would hope that any organisation which has any- thing to do with vulnerable
people would take every step to ensure that they are not put at risk."
It
is understood Eyob, who works on a freelance basis, is not on the Scottish
Legal Aid Board's register.
The
Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) pays up to £30 an hour for interpretation
services.
Solicitors
are reimbursed for the money they spend on translators.
A
SLAB spokesman said: "It is the solicitor's duty to ensure that the
interpreter is appropriate and suitably qualified."
The
majority of Eritreans who seek asylum in the UK are given legal aid and
immigration lawyers Katani and Co earned more than half a million pounds from
SLAB last year alone.
The
Evening Times understands the watchdog responsible for regulating Scotland's
solicitors is likely to be in touch with Katani and Co following our
revelations.
A
spokeswoman at the Law Society of Scotland urged clients to complain if they
have concerns.
She
said: "It's important for clients and the public to be able to have
complete faith in their solicitor."
Misrak
Eyob attacked a 35-year-old woman in July 2009 in Royston.
During
his trial he blamed 'the devil' for his actions.
Eyob,
who had been in Scotland seven months at the time of the attack, was found
guilty and jailed for four years.
Judge
Sean Murphy QC also ordered that Eyob be supervised for a further two years on
his release.
A
spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: "Registered sex offenders are
supervised in the community via the Multi- Agency Public Protection
Arrangements, also known as MAPPA.
"Either
police or social work staff will take the lead on monitoring an individual,
depending on the circumstances of a particular case.
"From
a social work perspective such individuals are considered as clients of social
work services and we therefore have a legal duty to respect their confidentiality.
"We
cannot discuss an individual case."
A
Scottish Government spokeswoman also declined to comment on Misrak Eyob's case
but said: "Any person receiving a sentence of more than two and a half
years is required to tell employers about their past offending when going for a
job.
"This
ensures employers can know about a person's background when deciding whether to
employ them.
"Such
offenders are worked with on an individual basis to ensure effective risk
management, public protection, harm reduction, and rehabilitation."
A
spokeswoman for Katani and Co declined to comment. Misrak Eyob could not be
reached for comment.
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