MONTEGO BAY, St James — A routine court sitting turned procedural on Wednesday after a bribery matter involving two foreign nationals could not proceed, exposing a practical weakness in the justice system: the absence of an interpreter.
The defendants, Ying Lu and Dengzheng Lu, appeared before the St James Parish Court to answer multiple traffic-related and corruption charges. However, it quickly became clear that neither man was proficient in English, rendering the proceedings impossible to continue.
Presiding Judge Kaysha Grant-Pryce confirmed that interpretation services were required but unavailable at the time. With no lawful way to advance the hearing, the court postponed the matter until February 23. Bail conditions for both men remain in effect until then.
The case originates from an encounter on October 8, 2025, shortly after midday, when police responded to a report of a vehicle obstructing a pedestrian crossing. Investigators allege that a grey Toyota Voxy had been left stationary across the crossing while the driver unloaded luggage.
According to police accounts, Dengzheng Lu was behind the wheel and admitted he was not in possession of a valid driver’s licence. His passenger, Ying Lu, allegedly attempted to intervene by presenting documents to officers — including a Jamaican licence and a Chinese passport — with cash concealed inside.
The prosecution maintains that the act constituted an attempted inducement, alongside multiple violations of road traffic laws.
Under caution, the driver is alleged to have remarked that other officers might have accepted the money and allowed him to leave.
The court will revisit the matter next month, provided a qualified interpreter is present to allow the case to proceed.
