Translation problems delay doctors’ testimony in Reykholt case

Testimony from Maltese doctors in the Reykholt case was postponed on Monday because of interpretation difficulties, mbl.is reports. The doctors were due to appear before the District Court of South Iceland.

Six Icelandic people are charged with carrying out an especially dangerous and serious assault on a Palestinian man in his sixties who holds Maltese citizenship. The alleged attack took place in Reykholt in southern Iceland in April 2024. Nearly 18 million Icelandic krónur were transferred from the man’s bank account.

The sixth day of the main hearing began on Monday. Doctors and police officers involved in the case were scheduled to testify, including Maltese doctors who were due to appear remotely.

The first doctor, who was on duty at the Maltese hospital where the complainant sought treatment, appeared by video link. An Icelandic interpreter was present in the courtroom to translate the doctor’s answers.

It soon became clear that there were difficulties with the translation and interpretation. After the testimony, the prosecutor proposed repeating it at a later date and postponing the testimony of the other Maltese doctors scheduled to appear that day. The defendants’ lawyers raised no objections, and the judge approved the proposal.

No date has been set for the Maltese doctors to appear before the court again.

A Maltese police officer who met and spoke with the complainant at the hospital when the case was reported in Malta also testified remotely. The testimony was conducted with the same interpreter and proceeded without difficulty.

An Icelandic police officer, a doctor from the South Iceland Health Institution, a dentist who examined the complainant and the complainant’s psychologist also testified on Monday. Further details of their testimony will be reported later.