Jang Xu, a 58-year-old Chinese national, appeared in the Christianburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on a vehicular charge but the court experienced difficulties as the accused appeared to have a problem understanding English.
Jang Xu, who is employed by Bai Shan Lin as a driver, was charged with faulty packing of load on motor vehicle GRR8158, which he was driving on March 6th 2014 at Amelia’s Ward. According to the charge, the accused failed to have the load, thereon, packed in such a manner that no danger was likely to be caused to other persons using the road.
The accused had appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse two week earlier with a different Chinese national as his interpreter. When Magistrate Nurse asked the new interpreter how long he has been residing in Guyana and what was his occupation, he replied that he has been in Guyana for four months and he works with Bai Shan Lin as a transshipment manager. The accused pleaded guilty to the charge but told the court with great assistance from attorney at law Motee Singh that he was transporting loam and it was not done in a manner that was dangerous. When the prosecution stated that the accused was taken to the Mackenzie Police Station and released on his own reconnaissance to attend court, the interpreter said the accused had not been taken to the police station and that he had not signed any document. But when the accused was shown the document, he acknowledged that it was his signature.
Magistrate Nurse said the misunderstanding revealed a language barrier problem and he asked how could the police charge someone who did not understand what he was charged for and what he was signing.
Magistrate Nurse then changed the plea to not guilty, placed the accused on $10,000 bail and adjourned the hearing for May 21st.
He also ordered the interpreter to take the names of two other Chinese nationals, who could not otherwise be located and who work with Bai Shan Lin, to have them also appear in the Christianburg Magistrate’s Court on May 21.
