It is with much sadness that the legal community of Brunei Darussalam announces the passing away of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Sir Noel Plunkett Power. Sir Noel passed away on Thursday, 19th November 2009 at Jerudong Park Medical Centre after suffering a heart attack.

Sir Noel had recently completed the second Court of Appeal session for 2009. Sir Noel had been the President of the Court of Appeal since April 2007 and had sat asa Justice of the Court of Appeal since 1989. Prior to that, Sir Noel had presided in the Brunei High Court asa Judicial Commissioner from the early 1980's.

Sir Noel was born and raised in Brisbane, Australia, graduating from the University of Queensland. He was appointed asa Magistrate in Hong Kong in 1965 and served  on the Land Tribunal. Sir Noel was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Hong Kong in 1979. He was appointed Vice-President of the Hong Kong Court of Appeal in 1995 and served as Acting Chief Justice of Hong Kong from 1996 to 1997.

From 1997 Sir Noel was appointed asa non-permanent JUdge of the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong and received a Knighthood in 1999. Sir Noel was highly respected in the legal community for his fairness, compassion and integrity. The legal community expresses their condolences and sympathies to Lady Power and the family of the late Sir Noel.

Courtesy of the legal community.

The Chief Justice of Brunei Darussalam, the Honourable, Dato Seri Paduka Haji Kifrawi Bin Dato Paduka Haji Kifli made a working visit to the Syariah Courts and the State Judiciary Department at the Supreme Court and the Syariah Courts Building on the 31st October 2009.