Dubai Courts facing a shortage of translators

The Typing and Translation Section at the Dubai Courts is having a hard time finding translators for some languages, a senior official at the section has said.
Waheed Al Jassimi, Head of the Translation wing of the section, told Khaleej Times yesterday that there was a shortage of translators for languages like German, Italian, Russian, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Swahili and some others.

“When a party to a case does not speak any language other than his/her native tongue, we have a tough time.

“If our section does not have translators for that language, we seek help from outside.

“The translators, who are called in, have to be accredited by the embassies/consulates or affiliated to foreign translation firms,” Al Jassimi explained.

Aysha Rashid Ahamli, Head of Typing and Translation Section, Dubai Courts, told Khaleej Times that the section had 16 translators, including a woman who joined recently.

“I believe that appointing female translators could help facilitate family cases. It is a new initiative.

“She will be working for the Shariah courts handling cases of marriage, divorce and inheritance. Three other male translators will soon join the section,” Alhamli said.

Alhamli said the section had translators in 12 languages — English, Russian, Persian, Urdu, Hindi, Sri Lankan, Mandarin, Pashto, Punjabi, Bengali, Tamil and Malayalam.

Alhamli added that sometimes the judge or the lawyer asked to replace the translator with another one because of some problem in communication.

“The translation needs to be very accurate during the hearings as it would affect the proceedings.

“Hence, we are really careful in the selection of translators. Arabic is a must for all translators and the translator should be able to speak the second language formally.

“Apart from translating inside the court halls, the translators have loads of writing work.

“They are in charge of translating documents, complaints and emails coming to the Dubai Courts in general.”

Alhamli noted that a translator should be on duty daily at the Traffic Court affiliated to the General Command of the Dubai Police.

“Our translation section also covers the Traffic Court, the Immigration Court and the Muraqqabat Court,” she said. Source

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Punishments for juvenile convicts

A symposium of presiding judges of the higher courts in the UAE, organised by the Dubai Courts yesterday, discussed the penalties and punishments like the minimum jail term and death penalty for juvenile convicts in serious crimes.
The symposium was held in line with the directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who had called for holding regular meetings of chief judges to discuss legal matters and exchange points of view.

Dr Ahmed Saed bin Hazeem, Director-General of the Dubai Courts, attended. Speaking on the agenda, Mohammed Mahmoud Rasim, Chief Judge of the Dubai Court of Cassation, said there were some matters needed to be reviewed such as the minimum limit of the jail sentence, which is one month as per the law now. The symposium also discussed the issue of deportation of the stateless expatriates like bidoons.
Death penalty for juvenile convicts in cases of serious crimes like beating a person to death and sexual assault on minors and the powers of criminal courts and juvenile courts were the other subjects discussed. The recommendations of the symposium would be sent to the Judiciary Council for review. Source

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Dubai Courts on the fast track

The courts in Dubai seek to reach record levels with respect to the disposal of cases. This was stated by the Director of Dubai Courts, Dr Ahmed bin Hazaim Al Suwaidi, yesterday.
Dr Al Suwaidi claimed that the Dubai Courts’ performance had exceeded all expectations at local, Arab and international levels. He said in the past 10 months, several international delegations visited the courts to study the Dubai Courts’ achievement in quick dispensation of justice.

The World Bank, he added, has assigned to the Dubai Courts two overseas projects, one concerning training of the judicial and administrative cadres from Iraq and another regarding consultancy in the planning for the advancement of judiciary in Afghanistan. Source

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