KUALA LUMPUR: A Sikh policeman yesterday turned court interpreter for two Hindi-speaking foreigners charged with committing gang robbery and...
KUALA LUMPUR: A Sikh policeman yesterday turned court interpreter for two Hindi-speaking foreigners charged with committing gang robbery and wrongful confinement after they insisted on speaking the Bollywood language.
“It is like Bollywood,” Sessions Court judge Zainal Abidin Kamarudin said before asking Sjn Sukhbir Singh for help to interpret their pleas.
Sjn Sukhbir Singh immediately interpreted the content of three charges in Hindi to each accused, Pakistani Muhd Shoaib Nisa and Indian national Maharaj Singh, both 26.
Upon hearing their charges yesterday, the two unemployed men started to ask Sjn Sukhbir Singh loudly about the contents.
When the judge asked about their lawyer, the two quickly explained to Sjn Sukhbir Singh that they were supposed to be charged for the offences on March 28.
To this, the judge told them that it would be a Saturday, which is an “off day” for the courts.
The two accused then said they have a lawyer known as “Reena”, to which the judge asked if the name referred to an actress, which got people in the courtroom laughing.
The foreigners quickly claimed trial to all charges.
Muhd Shoaib and Maharaj Singh pleaded not guilty to robbing air steward Mohammad Fayrouz Abd Rashid, 35, of RM19,650 using a knife.
They are said to have committed the offence with four others still at large at a hotel room in Jalan Pudu at about 11am on Feb 23.
The judge did not grant bail and set April 1 for mention.
“It is like Bollywood,” Sessions Court judge Zainal Abidin Kamarudin said before asking Sjn Sukhbir Singh for help to interpret their pleas.
Sjn Sukhbir Singh immediately interpreted the content of three charges in Hindi to each accused, Pakistani Muhd Shoaib Nisa and Indian national Maharaj Singh, both 26.
Upon hearing their charges yesterday, the two unemployed men started to ask Sjn Sukhbir Singh loudly about the contents.
When the judge asked about their lawyer, the two quickly explained to Sjn Sukhbir Singh that they were supposed to be charged for the offences on March 28.
To this, the judge told them that it would be a Saturday, which is an “off day” for the courts.
The two accused then said they have a lawyer known as “Reena”, to which the judge asked if the name referred to an actress, which got people in the courtroom laughing.
The foreigners quickly claimed trial to all charges.
Muhd Shoaib and Maharaj Singh pleaded not guilty to robbing air steward Mohammad Fayrouz Abd Rashid, 35, of RM19,650 using a knife.
They are said to have committed the offence with four others still at large at a hotel room in Jalan Pudu at about 11am on Feb 23.
The judge did not grant bail and set April 1 for mention.
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