Dubai court adjourns case for lack of translator

Dubai: A judge yesterday adjourned the case of a hearing and speech impaired suspect, being tried for having consensual sex and drinking, for lack of a translator who can use sign language.

Dubai Court of First Instance had earlier sentenced the UAE national suspect, identified as O.N., in his 20s, to two months in jail and fined him Dh1,000. The public prosecution had charged the suspect with having an illicit affair and consuming liquor.

The suspect contested the initial verdict.

His brother, K.N., appeared with him in the Court of First Instance yesterday to help in the translation.

Yet, presiding judge Ebrahim Khalil Abu Shamma refused to carry on with the proceedings and asked the public prosecution to assign a translator who knows sign language before looking into the case.

The case has been adjourned till next month.

Rare case

Judge Mohammad Yousuf, Deputy Director of Dubai Courts Department, told Gulf News it is rare to see such cases.

"Since I joined the judicial system in Dubai in 1996, I only heard of three or four such cases. Eventually, the judge who handles such a case requests the public prosecution to send a translator who knows sign language.

"They are usually brought in from special centres. The judge then asks the translator to take the legal oath before carrying out the court procedures," he said.