| Fadley Faisal |

THE case of the suspended judiciary couple came up in the High Court yesterday, only to be adjourned when the presiding Justice Gareth Lugar-Mawson called in sick.

However, Judge Muhammed Faisal bin Pehin Dato Haji Kefli heard all parties’ submissions on developments of the case, which is nearing trial.

Sheikh Noordin Sheikh Mohamad, defence counsel for Ramzidah binti Pehin Datu Kesuma Diraja Colonel (Rtd) Haji Abdul Rahman, a Deputy Official Receiver of the Bankruptcy Office; and Haji Nabil Daraina bin Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin, a Senior Magistrate at the Bandar Seri Begawan Magistrate’s Court, informed the court that he has filed in papers for the ad-hoc admission of their Queen’s Counsel Simon Farrell.

Judge Muhammed Faisal fixed February 11 for the hearing of the admission, with a response from the defence to have it earlier.

The prosecution team, led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Hajah Suhana binti Haji Sudin, confirmed receipt of the petition for the ad-hoc admission, and has been in an ongoing discussion pertaining to the filing of further documents on the application.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Hajah Suhana also reminded that the Law Society has not responded with an update to this application.

Judge Muhammed Faisal adjourned the case to be heard tomorrow.

This was established in a statement issued by the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam to the Bulletin, along with the reminder that while the proceedings are in open court, space in the public galleries is limited; and that no photography or video recording is allowed in courtrooms.

Members of the public are also reminded to abide by court etiquette when attending proceedings.

The trial against the couple is set to run from March 4-30.

Ramzidah has been charged with criminal breach of trust by a public servant for allegedly misappropriating over BND7 million between 2004 and 2017.

Both she and her husband, Haji Nabil Daraina, face charges of money laundering, with the prosecution alleging that transfers of BND500,000 were made from the Official Receiver’s bank account to their own personal joint account.

The couple also face charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act, for possessing assets not corresponding to their income as public servants.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau’s investigation, which has been released into the public, includes information that among the assets seized is a long list of luxury vehicles worth BND3.2 million.

Deputy Public Prosecutors Hajah Suhana, Hajah Suriana binti Haji Radin, Dayangku Didi-Nuzara binti Pengiran Haji Abdul Latiff and Muhd Qamarul Affyian bin Abdul Rahman represented the Public Prosecutor yesterday.