Yesterday, 15th June, concludes the three-day appeal hearing lodged by the Public Prosecutor and First Defendant, Ramzidah binti Pehin Datu Kesuma Diraja Retired Colonel Hj Abdul Rahman, as well as Hj Nabil Daraina bin Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Awg Badaruddin, Second Defendant in the Court of Appeal. The hearing was held before the Honourable President of the Court of Appeal Michael Peter Burrel, Judicial Commissioners Justice Conrad Seagroatt and Michael Victor Lunn.
After a trial in the High Court between September and November 2019, the First Defendant was convicted of criminal breach of trust and money laundering offences. She was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment by the Honourable Judicial Commissioner Lugar-Mawson. Meanwhile, the Second Defendant was convicted of three money laundering charges and sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment. However, he was acquitted on two money laundering charges.
Arguments were put forth by the Public Prosecutor for the sentences imposed on the Defendants to be enhanced and also for the acquittal of the Second Defendant on two money laundering charges to be overturned. On behalf of the Defendants, arguments were made for the Defendants’ convictions to be quashed and also for the Second Defendant’s sentence to be reduced.
The Court of Appeal’s decision will be delivered by Wednesday, the 7th of July 2021. The Public Prosecutor was represented by Dato Seri Setia Davinder Singh S.C appearing by teleconference from Singapore and assisted by Deputy Public Prosecutors Hjh Suriana Hj Radin, Dk Didi-Nuraza Pg Hj Abdul Latiff and Muhammad Qamarul Affyian bin Abdul Rahman who appeared in the Brunei Darussalam Court. Counsel from Davinder Singh Chambers LLC, Navin Thevar, David Fong, Tan Ruo Yu and Srruthi Ilankathir were also assisting. Simon Farrell QC, who represented both the Defendants, was assisted by Sheikh Noordin bin Sheikh Mohammad.
Source: Radio Television Brunei