MUMBAI, March 9: An Indian court rejected a request on Monday by the only gunman charged in the Mumbai attack case to translate court documents, including the charges against him, into his native language.

Mohammed Ajmal Kasab addressed a court for the first time, joining the proceedings via video link because of concerns he posed too great a security risk to appear in person.

He asked for an Urdu translation of court documents that included details of the charges he faced, his confession and witness testimony. The court rejected his request, saying he would be given a lawyer who could read English and Marathi, the two languages in which the documents were printed. Kasab, 21, was charged last month with 12 criminal counts, including murder and waging war against India and could face the death penalty if convicted. Nine other attackers were killed during the three-day siege in November.

“The court has condemned the application of Kasab asking that he be provided a translated copy of the charge-sheet, but we will provide him a lawyer from the legal aid department of the state government who will be well-versed in English and Marathi,” special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told reporters later.

Kasab’s co-accused — Fahim Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed — also applied for the lengthy documents to be translated from the local language Marathi into Urdu but their request too was denied, added Nikam.

“I strongly opposed the applications as an attempt to delay the trial,” he said. “There are 12,000 pages required to be translated into Urdu. This will take a long time.” He said it was a “principle of natural justice” for the trial to take place as soon as possible.

Ansari and Ahmed had both engaged local lawyers who could explain the charges, Mr Nikam said.

Kasab has no lawyer representing him so far and a prominent group of Indian lawyers has ordered its members not to defend him or any other suspect in the Mumbai attacks, making it likely that the government will provide him with counsel.

Mr Nikam said Kasab was remanded in custody for a further two weeks. The case against the three men was adjourned until March 23 for a further administrative hearing, added the prosecutor.—Agencies
Tags: