Mega drug trial in Salzburg: translated protocols are checked
The non-certified main interpreter for the Arabic language translated all interrogation and telephone surveillance protocols in the investigation process, which lasted around three years. Two sisters-in-law of the woman were apparently also used for translations. The interpreter is said to have been in a secret relationship with the key witness since June 2019, to the annoyance of the defense lawyers.
Interpreter biased about relationship?
The indictment is based in large part on the information provided by the Iraqi living in Salzburg. The key witness is said to have admitted to having been involved in the drug business and received a distraction in advance. The interpreter was removed from the in-house interpreter list of the Salzburg Regional Court around two weeks ago. In the process that started yesterday, a certified interpreter for the Arabic language will be used.
Because of the interpreter’s intimate relationship with the key witness, defense lawyers have declared the woman to be biased. “Everything she has translated is threatened with nullity,” said lawyer Leopold Hirsch. Colleagues announce that their clients will only testify in the process after the minutes have been translated again.
Defense lawyers demand new translation
The regional court published media information on this subject today. Translation of telecommunication monitoring protocols from the investigative procedure in question. “
However, several defense lawyers such as Andreas Reischl and Kurt Jelinek have requested the complete new translation of all accused interrogation and telephone surveillance protocols, including those that the woman’s sisters-in-law translated. The jury’s senate has still reserved a decision on the application.
Defendants plead not guilty
According to the indictment, a pizzeria in Bürmoos in Flachgau is said to have been the transshipment point for drug smuggling. Austria apparently played the role of a stopover in this trade in Captagon pills. The Captagon was investigated and manufactured in Lebanon and was destined for Saudi Arabia. The detour via Europe only because imports from the EU in Saudi Arabia are apparently significantly less controlled than goods imports from the Middle East. The public prosecutor’s office narrowed the offense from June 2016 to March 2021.
The 14 accused are said to be members of an international gang who smuggled the so-called “jihadist” drugs from Lebanon to Austria. The defense lawyers of the 13 defendants present had declared at the start of the trial that they were not guilty. “Not a single tablet”, no takers and no cash were found.
(Source: APA)