uneasydaz
Well-Known Member
EX-CELTIC ace Nir Bitton’s speeding trial was delayed for six months as he wanted an interpreter — despite speaking fluent English.
The Israel star, 31, had his lawyers postpone the case three times because a Hebrew translator failed to turn up after he did 95mph in a 50 zone.
But Bitton coped fine with telly interviews during his nine years with the Hoops.
It comes as court staff scramble to clear a mountain of backlogged cases after Covid.
A source said: “Bitton’s English is excellent.
“It’s surprising it would be felt he would need an interpreter to follow things.”
The midfielder, now at Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv, spoke to Celtic TV in May.
He revealed he had helped countryman Liel Abada “settle into the city, the culture, the football, the language”.
And he told how he had “two Scottish kids and another one coming” during his near-decade in Glasgow.
The Scottish Court and Tribunal Service said: “It is policy to facilitate accused persons with an interpreter in all cases if the court deems this necessary.”
Bitton jetted back for the Glasgow sheriff court hearing last week.
He admitted careless driving on the M80 near the city in his Audi SQ7.
Sheriff Michael Hanlon fined him £4,500 with nine points but spared him a ban.
Scottish Tory Shadow Justice Secretary Jamie Greene MSP said many would be “aghast” at the hold-up.
The Israel star, 31, had his lawyers postpone the case three times because a Hebrew translator failed to turn up after he did 95mph in a 50 zone.
But Bitton coped fine with telly interviews during his nine years with the Hoops.
It comes as court staff scramble to clear a mountain of backlogged cases after Covid.
A source said: “Bitton’s English is excellent.
“It’s surprising it would be felt he would need an interpreter to follow things.”
The midfielder, now at Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv, spoke to Celtic TV in May.
He revealed he had helped countryman Liel Abada “settle into the city, the culture, the football, the language”.
And he told how he had “two Scottish kids and another one coming” during his near-decade in Glasgow.
The Scottish Court and Tribunal Service said: “It is policy to facilitate accused persons with an interpreter in all cases if the court deems this necessary.”
Bitton jetted back for the Glasgow sheriff court hearing last week.
He admitted careless driving on the M80 near the city in his Audi SQ7.
Sheriff Michael Hanlon fined him £4,500 with nine points but spared him a ban.
Scottish Tory Shadow Justice Secretary Jamie Greene MSP said many would be “aghast” at the hold-up.