BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – A year and a half after their arrest, the High Court jailed two long-serving members of the judiciary on Saturday for stealing more than $15.75 million from the Bankruptcy Office — the largest sum ever embezzled by a public servant.

Over the course of 14 years, the money was slowly siphoned from the Official Receiver’s account, which held debt repayments from people who had entered into bankruptcy and were trying to discharge their obligations to creditors.

The cash was used to fund the lavish lifestyle of the defendants, Ramzidah Pehin Datu Kesuma Diraja Col (rtd) Hj Abdul Rahman and Hj Nabil Daraina Pehin Dato Ustaz Hj Badaruddin, who spent over $3 million on luxury cars, designer goods and watches.

The High Court sentenced Ramzidah, who was the deputy official receiver at the Bankruptcy Office, to 10 years for each of the 14 charges of criminal breach of trust by a public servant; and five years for each of the 10 charges of money laundering — the maximum custodial sentence allowed under the relevant legislation. The judge ordered the sentences to run concurrently, meaning the defendant will serve a total of 10 years in prison.

When handing down his sentence, Justice Gareth John Lugar-Mawson said:

It is impossible to find a more egregious example of criminal breach of trust in Brunei or in any other country. For 14 years you took advantage of an imperfect system to enrich yourself and your family. Over 200 judgment debtors were unable to discharge their debts. It is difficult to see how they and the judgment creditors can ever be compensated. You thought your position in judiciary and society would be protect you from your crimes, but you were wrong to assume that.

For Hj Nabil — who was a senior magistrate before his suspension in January 2018 — the court sentenced him to five years for each of the six offences of money laundering. The sentences will run concurrently, meaning he will serve a total of five years in prison.