Has anyone ever interpreted for a prisoner? Well, I have. In fact, it was my first ever mission, and maybe one of the most memorable ones.
I received an urgent call from the coordinator telling me to be present at Noi Bai airport within 1 hour to translate for the Hanoi Police Department. The officers needed me for an interview with a suspect of illegal transportation of wild animals, in my case, this guy transported 13 pieces of rhino horns. They said that the interview would only last for two hours but to my astonishment, I was “released” at 4 am on the next day. I was nervous initially, not because I was incapable, but because I was about to face a “drug addict lookalike”, quoted the police. I envisioned he would have held a pistol to my head if I had pissed him off. But actually, he was quite polite, difficult to communicate at first but then gradually loosened his guard. The conversation between him and the police officers was easy to interpret since they had enough evidence to convict him anyway. However, I still had to be all ears as wrong interpretation could put me in prison. And what’s quite bizarre was that I was asked to be a psychotherapist (like seriously?) comforting him so he would cooperate.
At about 8, the interrogation finished and the suspect was delivered to the Hanoi Police Department on Hang Bai Street for … further questions, and of course I had to accompany him. Though I felt super tired, I tried to stay awake to interpret correctly his testimony. That is to say, stamina is really a prerequisite of an interpreter. At midnight, just when I thought I could reunite with my cozy bed, I was asked to follow the suspect to a detention center since he would be kept there and I was needed for some entry procedures. I remember stepping out of the office door and nearly passing out, the police officers freaked out and agreed to let me rest for a while. After eating some sticky rice, I continued the work, it was 1 am then. On my way to the detention center, I literally thought “What have I got myself into?”. Was that place going to be scary with full of thugs gawking at us? But to my surprise, the center was peaceful, we met some prisoners but they didn’t cause any scene. I actually was excited as that was the first time I entered a jail. The conversation was again not too complicated to interpret. After bidding farewell to my unfortunate but “breaking-bad” new acquaintance, I left and arrived home at wee hours.
This experience was exhausting yet intriguing. If I weren’t an interpreter, there’s no way I could be a part of an investigation team, so I eventually appreciate that opportunity. I’m still interpreting for the police as the investigation procedures haven’t ended, but the first time really left me unforgettable memories
