Prosecutors seek a Dutch interpreter

Prosecutors seek a Dutch interpreter

TANGERANG: The hearing of a drug case at Tangerang District
Court was adjourned again on Monday, as prosecutors are yet to
find an interpreter for Dutch defendant Sibel Yuacuac, 20.

Sibel was arrested at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport
with 4,862 ecstasy pills in her bag, upon her arrival from
Malaysia late in August.

She is charged with violating Law No. 5/1999 on psychotropic
substances. If proven guilty, she will face a maximum sentence of
death.

The trial was scheduled to start last Thursday, but
prosecutors refused to use either one of two staff members from
the Netherlands embassy office who were in attendance as
interpreters, said lawyer Hendrik.

The defendant, who was depressed and had once tried to commit
suicide, told The Jakarta Post that she could not speak fluent
English and need an interpreter.

However, prosecutors said that in the next session they would
use an English interpreter for the defendant.

Presiding judge Ade Komarusin adjourned the trial until
Wednesday. -- JP