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©New Straits Times (Used by permission)

KUALA LUMPUR: The Bar Council wants the government to provide the judiciary with adequate interpreters to more efficiently dispose of cases involving foreigners.

Its Human Rights Committee chairman Edmond Bon said the shortage of interpreters hampered the administration of justice and was a burden on tax payers.

"The delay in disposing of criminal cases that involve foreigners also contributed to overcrowding in prisons and Immigration depots."

Bon said this in response to the High Court in Ipoh which yesterday adjourned a proceeding that involved four Myanmar and three Bangladeshis.

Judge Datuk V.T. Singham deferred the matter to Tuesday because only a Myanmar interpreter was present while the Bangladeshi one was engaged in another court in Butterworth.

The seven foreigners had served their sentences for various criminal offences and were under the custody of the Immigration Department pending deportation.

The Tapah magistrates court had referred the case to the High Court to determine whether the department had the power to detain foreigners prior to deportation or must seek a court order.

Bon said the council's stand had always been that any unauthorised detention was a breach of fundamental liberties, regardless of whether the individual involved was a Malaysian or a foreigner .

He said the salaries and allowances of interpreters, including locals, must be revised to attract more people to serve the judiciary.

By now, Bon said, the government should be aware of the need for more interpreters since many foreigners were charged with criminal cases or were guilty of overstaying and illegal entry.

"A person has the right to get the service of an interpreter to follow the court proceedings," said Bon.

He said a lot of judicial time was lost and additional transportation and manpower costs were incurred when cases were postponed.

"More funds have to be allocated to upkeep prisons and depots and to feed foreigners under custody."

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