All officers and staff of the Syariah Courts ought to uphold integrity, regardless of rank, as integrity serves as a crucial attribute for public servants entrusted with responsibilities.
Chief Syar’ie Judge Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar stressed this at the annual assembly of the Syariah Courts, State Judiciary Department at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) at the multipurpose hall of the Supreme Court Building and Syariah Courts yesterday.
The assembly saw an opening speech by Acting Chief Registrar of the Syariah Appeal Court Pengiran Mohammaddin bin Pengiran Haji Aliakbar, who shared the statistics and cases registered by Syariah Courts in 2023.
There were 1,446 mal cases, showing an increase of 73 cases compared to 2022.
Of the total registrations, the Syariah Subordinate Court in the Brunei-Muara District recorded 1,072 cases, Tutong District 194 cases, Belait District 164 cases, and Temburong District 36 cases.
In the Syariah High Court, the total registered cases were 2,279, indicating a decrease of 194 cases compared to 2022.
For criminal cases, registrations at the Syariah Subordinate Court increased by over 100 per cent, totalling 870 cases compared to only 429 cases in 2022. The Syariah Subordinate Court in Brunei-Muara recorded 569 cases, Tutong District 205 cases, Belait District 78 cases, and Temburong District 18 cases.
In the Syariah High Court, 26 criminal cases were registered, a significant decrease from the 147 cases in the previous year.
The decline was a result of the shift in the registration of family-related offences from the Syariah High Court to the Syariah Subordinate Court starting in 2023.
For revenue collection, the Brunei Islamic Religious Council collected BND1,308,392.10 from the administration of the Syariah Courts. These collections included transactions related to marriages, mal case registrations, and fines imposed on offenders.
Highlights of the assembly included a video presentation showcasing the programmes and activities of the Syariah Courts throughout last year, the awarding of certificates for sporting events and the recognition of officers and staff of the Syariah Courts who have transferred or retired.
Chief Syar’ie Judge Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Salim presented awards for the Syariah Courts’ Service Excellence in 2023 to outstanding staff members to mark the conclusion of the assembly.
Acting director of the Department of Judicial Affairs, judges, registrars, officials and staff of Syariah Courts nationwide and PMO attended the event. – Fadley Faisal
