S.L. 602.1 Art. 25Language to be used and interpreters.

(1) The investigative interview is to be held in the

Maltese or English language according to which language is the primary language of the referred minor.

(2) Without prejudice to the foregoing sub-regulation, when the primary language of the referred minor is neither Maltese nor English and the referred minor does not have sufficient knowledge of either language to express himself adequately, the investigative interview will need to be conducted with the help of an interpreter.

(3) Before the start of the investigative interview, the member of the judiciary or the legal procurator engaged by the Children’s House shall administer the oath to the appointed interpreter to faithfully report the words of the referred minor.

(4) The interpreter mentioned in the foregoing sub-regulation shall be present in the interviewing room and shall be visible at all times in the recording.

(5) It shall be the responsibility of the forensic interviewer to explain to the interpreter that there shall be no communication between him and the referred minor without such communication being translated for the purpose of the recording. The forensic interviewer shall stop the interview should he become aware that there is communication between the interpreter and the referred minor which is not being translated for the purpose of the recording and can ask for a replacement of the same interpreter.

(6) The foregoing provisions shall apply mutatis mutandis to any other linguistic professional whose assistance shall be needed to meet the linguistic needs of the referred minor and to enable the same minor to express himself clearly.

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