HIS Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam consented to preside over the swearing-in ceremony for the newly-appointed Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court yesterday.

The ceremony, which took place at Istana Nurul Iman, began with the reading out of the letter of appointment by the Grand Chamberlain, Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Penggawa Laila Bentara Istiadat Diraja Dalam Istana Pengiran Haji Alauddin bin Pengiran Paduka Tuan Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar.

This was followed by the recitation of the oath before His Majesty by Justice Michael Peter Burrell as the new non-resident Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court for a three-year term.

He is also a Justice of the Court of Appeal.

Speaking to the Borneo Bulletin, Justice Burrell said, “I am very pleased to continue my career in Brunei. I’m very happy and honoured to be here.

“It’s a very responsible position, and something I take very seriously,” he added. “It’s a new jurisdiction to me, so I’ve got a lot of things to learn, and I shall do that with interest and spend as much time as necessary to do the job as well as I can.”

Yesterday’s ceremony was also attended by His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; and His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah.

Also present at yesterday’s ceremony were Dato Seri Paduka Haji Kifrawi bin Dato Paduka Haji Kifli, Chief Justice; Datin Seri Paduka Hajah Hayati binti Pehin Orang Kaya Shahbandar Dato Seri Paduka haji Mohd Salleh, Attorney General; Pehin Orang Kaya Shahbandar Dato Seri Paduka Haji Awang Mohd Nawawi bin Pehin Orang Kaya Shahbandar Haji Awang Mohd Taha, Private and Confidential Secretary to His Majesty; and Justice John Barry Mortimer, President of the Court of Appeal.

Also in attendance were Justice Dato Paduka Steven Chong Wan Oon, High Court Judge; Justice Dato Paduka Haji Hairol Arni bin Haji Abdul Majid, High Court Judge; and Pengiran Hajah Rostaina binti Pengiran Haji Duraman, Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court. - Borneo Bulletin (27 October 2013)