MONTEGO BAY, St James — A scheduled court session was abruptly paused on Wednesday when two defendants, both foreign nationals, were unable to proceed with their case due to the absence of a court-appointed interpreter.
The men, Ying Lu and Dengzheng Lu, found themselves in legal limbo in the St James Parish Court as language limitations rendered the session nonviable. The presiding judge, Kaysha Grant-Pryce, noted that the defendants required Mandarin interpretation, which the court failed to provide. Their case was rescheduled for February 23, with bail extended until that date.
The matter arises from an incident on October 8, 2025, when law enforcement stopped a grey Toyota Voxy that was parked directly on a pedestrian crossing, disrupting foot traffic. Dengzheng Lu, alleged to have been behind the wheel, was reportedly unloading luggage while the passenger, Ying Lu, stood nearby.
Authorities say when identification was requested, Ying Lu handed over a Jamaican driver’s licence and a Chinese passport—alongside a folded $5,000 Jamaican note. This raised immediate concerns of attempted bribery. The driver, meanwhile, allegedly admitted to not possessing a valid driver’s licence, stating that he was merely asked to perform a pickup. Under caution, Dengzheng Lu reportedly remarked, “Other officers would have taken it and just left me.”
Charges include bribery, aiding and abetting traffic-related offences for Ying Lu, while Dengzheng Lu faces multiple counts related to driving without documentation and failing to yield to pedestrian rights.
The delay underscores a recurring issue in Jamaica’s justice system—insufficient interpreter availability in cases involving non-English-speaking defendants, especially as the island sees growing foreign presence in commercial and residential sectors.
