Rokiah Mahmud
Chief Syar’ie Judge Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar called on new lawyers to actively practise Syariah law, adding that only 24 of the 175 registered Syar’ie lawyers are active in their practice.
He made the call when 19 newly-registered Syar’ie lawyers received their certificates during a ceremony at the Brunei Supreme Court and Syariah Court building on Saturday.
The Chief Syar’ie Judge also said that some Syar’ie lawyers – even those who have been practising for a while – still lack competency regarding procedures of law related to Mal and crime when they try to file case documents.
This will affect their clients as their applications will be rejected, projecting a negative image of the courts registrar and management due to the Syar’ie lawyers’ negligence, he added.
The judge, thus, called on the new Syar’ie lawyers to fulfil their duty with integrity and honesty, and practise ethically to ensure their credibility and uphold the legal and justice system.
He also advised the lawyers to enhance their knowledge and sharpen their skills as well as to ensure their arguments are based on the principle of Syara’, as outlined in Al-Quran.
Acting Chief Registrar of Syariah Court of Appeal Pengiran Mohammadin bin Pengiran Haji Aliakbar, meanwhile, said 333 cases have been registered in the past three years, of which 316 are Mal cases and 17 criminal cases.
Some 244 cases have been heard at the Syariah Subordinate Court, 77 cases at the Syariah High Court and 12 cases at the Syariah Court of Appeal.
There are now 175 registered Syar’ie lawyers in the Sultanate.
Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Mohd Tashim bin Pengiran Haji Hassan; Deputy State Mufti Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Japar bin Haji Mat Dain @ Maidin; Panel Judge of Syariah Court of Appeal Dato Seri Setia Haji Tassim bin Haji Akim; and Panel Judge of Syariah Court of Appeal Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Aziz bin Orang Kaya Maharaja Lela Haji Yussof were also present at the ceremony.
