Court officials in search of an interpreter

By GABRIEL FITO
POLICE and court officials in Vanimo are still looking for an interpreter to interpret the court proceedings between the State and three Nigerians.
The three were charged with illegally entering the country through the border post at Wutung village, Sandaun province, early this year.
Senior provincial magistrate Thomas Morabang said the three accused had been making brief appearances in court for two months but no plea had been taken because both parties could not understand each other.
He said there might be a couple of people who speak the Hebrew language around, however, the costs involved in engaging them would be very high.
The three Nigerians, who entered through the border post at Wutung, were apprehended by police in April and were formally charged on Aug 9.
Mr Morabang said the three men were being placed under the custody of Vanimo Catholic Diocese for the last five months.
The three men appeared on Oct 4 at the Vanimo District Court but had their case further adjourned to Nov 6 for a plea to be taken if there is an interpreter.