Couldn’t explain rape due to language barrier: German

She said her English is poor and none her friends could comprehend German — which is why the fact that she was raped did not surface in the First Information Report (FIR) lodged with the police on September 29,2008,a day after she was allegedly gangraped by five youths. The police had added the section of gangrape only after the CFSL report confirmed the same.

Taking the plea that people around her did not understand German,the victim deposed in the court that she tried hard to explain the matter but could not. While getting her statements recorded before the magistrate in September,language proved to be an obstruction,she said. There was no translator and no one came forward to help her,the 20-year-old added.

“I wanted to explain the matter to the magistrate but could not… my English is not that good,” she said. Two interpreters have been hired to assist her for the trial.

The woman was questioned at length in the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge R S Attri on Saturday.

Breaking down while being questioned by the defence counsel,the woman said she found it extremely difficult to explain ‘what she went through’ to the police in Chandigarh in September.

She denied that she had stopped on way to Ambala to buy liquor and said she had cried for help after she was abducted. When asked if they stopped at the two toll barriers located between Chandigarh and Ambala,the German said they did not.

The cross-examination started at 10.30 in the morning and ended around 4.30 pm. The victim is likely to leave the city on Sunday as her presence is not required for further proceedings in court.

Father ‘satisfied’
Emerging from the court,the victim’s father said he is confident of justice. “I am completely satisfied with the police and court proceedings,” he added.

Court reimburses expenses
The court has directed the Chandigarh Administration through Home Secretary to reimburse 530 Euros to the German towards expenses incurred by her during her stay in the country for the trial. The two interpreters who translated her narration during the course of trial are being paid Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500 per day. The victim’s father’s application to reimburse his expenses was,however,rejected.