RECOGNITION & ENFORCEMENT OF FOREIGN MONEY JUDGMENTS (Brunei)

Recognition and/or enforcement of foreign money judgments

(1) Reciprocal Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act, Chapter 177

(https://www.agc.gov.bn/AGC%20Images/LAWS/ACT_PDF/R/CHAPTER%20177.pdf)

(2) Reciprocal Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Order

(https://www.agc.gov.bn/AGC%20Images/LAWS/ACT_PDF/R/CHAPTER%20177.pdf)

The Reciprocal Enforcement of Foreign Judgment Act (“REFJA”), Chapter 117, allows Brunei Darussalam to enforce court judgments from foreign countries that also recognise judgments given in Brunei Darussalam.

The Act may extend to foreign countries giving reciprocal treatment to Brunei Darussalam. At the present time, this Act only extends to Malaysia (High Court) and Singapore (High Court) (see Reciprocal Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Order in (2) above).

Applications for enforcement of foreign judgments in Brunei Darussalam can be made to the High Court at any time within 6 years of the date of the judgment, unless:

(i) It has been wholly satisfied; or

(ii) It could not be enforced by execution in the country of the original court.

Effects of a registered foreign money judgment:

  • A registered judgment shall, for the purpose of execution, be of same force and effect;
  • Proceedings may be taken on a registered judgment
  • The sum for which a judgment is registered shall carry interest; and
  • The registering court shall have the same control over the execution of a registered judgment

as if the judgment had been a judgment originally given by the registering court and entered on a date of registration.

Registered judgments must, or may, be set aside according to Section 5 and 6 of the REFJA.

The information in the above write-up is provided only for general guidance and is not intended to be taken as legal advice. Readers and/or users should refrain from acting on the above information without first seeking independent legal advice.

Brunei Site Map

Location and Facilities

Location and Facilities

Law and Courts Building,

Jalan RIPAS,

Bandar Seri Begawan BA1910,

Negara Brunei Darussalam.

Directory of Mediators

Directory of Mediators

The Brunei Judiciary has trained the Judicial Officers to become mediators. There are currently 6 mediators who are accredited by the Singapore Mediation Centre.

COVID-19 MEASURES

COVID-19 MEASURES

The Brunei Judiciary’s COVID-19 Response may be accessed here: Link here

The COVID-19 Speech by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam at the 9th CACJ Meeting, delivered on 7 October 2021, may be accessed here: Link here

International law

International law

BRUNEI’S APPROACH TO INTERNATIONAL LAW

  • Brunei as part of the Common Law countries uses a dualist approach in their application of international law.

  • When Brunei becomes a member to an international convention or commitment, and decides on joining a treaty, the Attorney General’s Chamber (AGC) will ensure or advice the ministry concerned to have all the legislations implemented domestically before joining the treaty.

  • The AGC will also rectify with domestic laws to identify gaps to ensure there is no conflict between the proposed treaty and the country’s policy.

BILATERAL RELATIONS

Countries Brunei Party ToLinks
Australiahttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_Australia.aspx
Bangladeshhttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_bangladesh.aspx
Bahrainhttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_Bahrain.aspx
Belgiumhttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_belgium.aspx
Cambodiahttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_Cambodia.aspx
Canadahttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_Canada.aspx
Egypthttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_Egypt.aspx
Chinahttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_China.aspx
Germanyhttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_Germany.aspx
Francehttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_France.aspx
Indonesiahttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_Indonesia.aspx
Indiahttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_India.aspx
Japanhttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_Japan.aspx
Iranhttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_Iran.aspx
Laoshttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_Laos.aspx
Jordanhttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_Jordan.aspx
Malaysiahttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_Malaysia.aspx
Kuwaithttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_Kuwait.aspx
Myanmarhttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_Myanmar.aspx
Moroccohttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_Morocco.aspx
Omanhttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_Oman.aspx
New Zealandhttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_New-Zealand.aspx
Philippineshttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_Philippines.aspx
Pakistanhttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_Pakistan.aspx
Qatarhttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_Qatar.aspx
Russiahttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_Russia.aspx
Republic of Koreahttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_korea1001-827.aspx
Singaporehttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_Singapore.aspx
Saudi Arabiahttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_saudiarabia.aspx
Thailandhttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_Thailand.aspx
Turkeyhttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_turkey.aspx
United Kingdomhttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_United-Kingdom.aspx
Socialist Republic of Vietnamhttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_Vietnam.aspx
United Arab Emirateshttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_United-Arab-Emirates.aspx
United States of Americahttp://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/br_America.aspx

 

Link to Brunei Treaty Section under Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade official website:

http://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/Bilateral%20Relations.aspx

REGIONAL AND MULTILATERAL RELATIONS

TREATIESCOUNTRIESDate of JoiningLink
The Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD)made up of 30 Asian member countriesJune 2002http://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/Regional-And-Multilateral.aspx
The Asia-Middle East Dialogue (AMED)49 countries and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA)June 2005http://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/asia-middle-east-dialogue-(amed).aspx
The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)21 member economiesJanuary 1989

http://www.mofat.gov.bn/pages/apec.aspx

https://www.apec.org/About-Us/About-APEC/History

The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM)53 Members: 28 European Union member states, 2 other European countries (Norway and Switzerland), the European Union, 21 Asian countries (including ASEAN) and the ASEAN Secretariat.March 1996

http://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/association-of-southeast-asian-nation-%28asean%29.aspx

http://www.aseminfoboard.org/content/history

The Forum for East Asia – Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC)32 member countriesSeptember 1999

http://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/Asia-Europe-Meeting-(ASEM-).aspx

http://www.fealac.org/about/info.jsp

The Commonwealth54 independent countries1st January 1984http://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/The-Commonwealth.aspx
The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)115 developing member countriesSeptember 1992http://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/The-Non-Aligned-Movement-(NAM)-.aspx
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)57 states spread over four continentsJanuary 1984http://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/The-Organization-of-Islamic-Cooperation-(OIC).aspx
The United Nations193 members21st September 1984http://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/The-United-Nations.aspx
TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership)12 countries5th October 2015http://mofat.gov.bn/Pages/TPP.aspx
Law of the Sea Treaty168 countries5th December 1984http://www.un.org/depts/los/clcs_new/submissions_files/preliminary/brn2009preliminaryinformation.pdf
BIMP-EAGA4 countries (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Phillippines)March 1994http://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/Brunei-Darussalam—Indonesia—Malaysia—The—–Philippines-East-ASEAN-Growth-Area—(BIMP-EAGA).aspx
(Multilateral Agreement on the Liberalization of International Air Transportation) MALIAT9 countries1st May 2001http://www.maliat.govt.nz/country/brunei.php

 

Link to Brunei Treaty Section under Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade official website:

http://www.mofat.gov.bn/Pages/Regional-And-Multilateral.aspx