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Bengali

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Alleged Grocery Robbery Suspects Head to County Court

Jurell Smalls and Mark Williams are charged in the September 5, 2011 robbery of Famous Grocery in Lansdale. The business owner testified at the hearing, through the use of a Bengali interpreter

A Bengali interpreter translated a Lansdale business owner's testimony of when he was robbed the evening of Sept. 5, 2011 by two men. "The back door was open, and two persons entered. One of them straightaway came to my cash. The other  was about 20 feet behind," translated Banerjee. Through the translation of Ananda , Abdul Chowdhury told of how he was forced at gunpoint to open his register by one of two men that entered through the back door of Famous Grocery at 21 W. Main St. The store was open for business during the robbery, and Chowdhury was alone. "He came and asked for the register to be opened and give money. I was getting a little hesitant in doing that," translated Banerjee. He didn't comply to the demand; he testified he …

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Hearing Against Convenience Store Robbery Suspect Continued, Drug Charges Upheld

District Judge Harold Borek continued hearing because there was no court-certified Bengali interpreter assigned to the preliminary hearing of Jurell Smalls, 20. A felony and misdemeanor counts of Percoset possession were moved to county court

The preliminary hearing against 2011 convenience store robbery suspect Jurell Smalls, 20, was continued by District Judge Harold Borek Tuesday, due to a court-certified Bengali interpreter not assigned to the hearing. Borek chastised Lansdale Police and the Montgomery County prosecutor's office for not notifying Lansdale district court 38-1-28 that an official interpreter was needed for the hearing. Montgomery County ADA Heather Levandoski called victim Abdul Chowdhury and another Bengali man to the stand, but were stopped by Borek. Borek called recess and spoke with the county court administrator. "The court administrator instructs that, due to the fact there is an uncertified interpreter, I am prohibited from using him ... particularly …

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