Sultan of Brunei dissolves Bruneian Ministry of Justice

THE Sultan of Brunei has axed the Bruneian Ministry of Justice as part of a shake-up following the collapse of the international conglomerate Amedeo, which was controlled by his brother, Prince Jefri Bolkiah.

The Sultan has offered no explanation for the move, which is reported to have come as a shock to Brunei's 70-odd legal practitioners.

The Amedeo construction group sank with debts of billions of dollars after the government stopped funding it in July. The House of Lords is due to decide the so-called "Chinese Walls" case involving accountants KPMG's battle to work for the Brunei Investment Agency in its investigation of Amedeo, despite a possible conflict of interest, in the New Year.

Following the Amedeo scandal the Sultan began a dramatic overhaul, firing Prince Jefri from his positions as head of Amedeo, chief of the Brunei Investment Agency and Finance Minister.

The Sultan himself is now Prime Minister, Defence Minister and Finance Minster, and has replaced the former Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Pengiran Bahrin Abbas, with Judge Kilfrawi.