Appointment of Justice Kannan Ramesh as Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam

7 October 2019 - Justice Kannan Ramesh was sworn-in by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, as a Judicial Commissioner ⁽¹⁾ of the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam today. He will continue to hold his concurrent position as a fulltime Judge of the Supreme Court of Singapore.

2. As Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam, Justice Ramesh will spend up to one month in Brunei each year to read, hear and write judgments on primarily commercial cases and certain civil cases. The appointment is for a period of two years in the first instance.

3. The appointment follows two similar appointments of Singapore Judges in foreign courts previously - Justice Quentin Loh at the Supreme Court of Fiji and Justice Judith Prakash at the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts.

4. Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, in welcoming the appointment of Justice Ramesh to the Bench of the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam said, “This appointment will strengthen cooperation between the two courts and deepen the already close ties between Singapore and Brunei. It will also raise Singapore’s international standing and reputation as a legal and judicial centre.”

5. On the appointment, Justice Ramesh said, “I am humbled by the invitation to be a member of the Brunei Darussalam judiciary. It is an honour and a privilege. I very much look forward to working with Chief Justice Steven Chong and the many august members of the Brunei Bench.”

SUPREME COURT

7 OCTOBER 2019