As with all languages, Portuguese does not translate exactly to English and vice versa. A single word in either language can have several meanings depending on the situation in which it is being used. Over the years I have seen countless examples where Portuguese translators have failed to understand the English language and have inadvertently used incorrect phraseology in an attempt to make the two languages fit. Without doubt a minefield.
Indeed, and it will happen in any language pairs in which words don't have a single meaning and in which syntax can alter the meaning of a sentence.
Then... add to that the chaos of someone with a working knowledge of both languages brought in at short notice on the first day of interviews. Add strong accents, colloquial English, a police officer just trying to get the general gist of events, no verbatim record of questions and answers, and panicked / exhausted parents just trying to get the ball rolling and you have a recipe for confusion.