TNAG-0757-FCO40-961-Strength-of-UK-armed-forces-stationed-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 158

CHAPTER 9

T

(a) JUSTICE, LAW AND ORDER

HE Courts constituted in the State are as follows

The Supreme Court of Brunei, consisting of the High Court

and the Court of Appeal;

Courts of Magistrates of the First, Second and Third Classes;

and

Courts of the Chief Kathi and of Kathis.

THE SUPREME COURT

The Supreme Court of Brunej was established by the Supreme Court Enactment, 1963, and consists of the Chief Justice and such number of Puisne Judges as may from time to time he appointed by the Sultan in Council.

Not less than three Supreme Court Judges constitute the Court of Appeal, but in certain special circumstances two Judges can constitute the Court. It deals with appeals, criminal and civil, from the High Court. The High Court is presided over by a single Judge who has unlimited jurisdiction in all criminal and civil matters. It may pass any sentence authorised by law, includ- ing sentence of death. Appeals lie to the High Court, in civil and criminal cases, from the Courts of First Class Magistrates, sit- ting in either original of appellate jurisdiction, and from the Courts of Second Class Magistrates.

There is at present no resident Supreme Court Judge in the State; but by mutual arrangement between the Government of Brunei and Hong Kong, Judges of the Supreme Court of Horg Kong are appointed Commissioners of the Supreme Court of Bru- nei for a specified, period of, usually, three years. These Commis- sioners have all the power of a Supreme Court Judge,

1964