Brunei
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- Constitutional Sultanate
- CONSTITUTION
- September 29, 1959
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on Islamic law and English common law; note - in May 2014, part of the Sharia penal code was established, which is applied alongside common law to both Muslims and Non-Muslims
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- The Legislative Council met for the first time in 20 years on September 25, 2004, with 21 members appointed by the Sultan. They voted on constitutional amendments calling for a 45-seat council with 15 elected members; the Sultan dissolved the council on September 1, 2005, and appointed a new one with 29 members.
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme Court, judges appointed for three years by the Sultan. The final court of appeal in civil cases is the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London. Sharia Courts handle Islamic law
RELIGIONS
67% Muslims; 13% Buddhists; 10% Christians; 10% Other
From the country
- JANUARY 1, 2008BruneiDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is mandatory for murder, unlawful possession of firearms and explosives
The death penalty is mandatory for murder, unlawful possession of firearms and explosives
- DECEMBER 18, 2007BruneiDEATH PENALTY
Brunei Darussalam voted against the Resolution...
Brunei Darussalam voted against the Resolution...
- JANUARY 1, 2007BruneiDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is mandatory for murder, unlawful possession of firearms and explosives
The death penalty is mandatory for murder, unlawful possession of firearms and explosives
- JULY 12, 2006BruneiDEATH PENALTY
BRUNEI. MALAYSIAN NATIONAL SENTENCED TO DEATH ON DRUGS CHARGES
Mohammad bin Usin, 28, a Malaysian national, was sentenced to death by the Brunei High Court after he pleaded guilty to transporting from Miri...
- JANUARY 1, 2006BruneiDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is mandatory for murder, unlawful possession of firearms and explosives
The death penalty is mandatory for murder, unlawful possession of firearms and explosives
- FEBRUARY 6, 2005BruneiDEATH PENALTY
BRUNEI. PHILIPPINES TO SAVE NATIONAL SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
it was reported that the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will manage to save an overseas Filipino worker (OFW), who was sentenced to death in Brunei for murdering his girlfriend.
- FEBRUARY 3, 2005BruneiDEATH PENALTY
Ibrahim bin Abdullah Puzone, a Filipino with a history of psychiatric problems, was sentenced to death
Ibrahim bin Abdullah Puzone, a Filipino with a history of psychiatric problems, was sentenced to death
- JANUARY 1, 2005BruneiDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is mandatory for murder, unlawful possession of firearms and explosives
The death penalty is mandatory for murder, unlawful possession of firearms and explosives
- APRIL 12, 2004BruneiDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is mandatory for murder, unlawful possession of firearms and explosives
The death penalty is mandatory for murder, unlawful possession of firearms and explosives
- JANUARY 1, 2003BruneiDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is mandatory for murder, unlawful...
The death penalty is mandatory for murder, unlawful possession of firearms and explosives, and drug trafficking (possession of more than 250 grams of Syabu (methylamphetamine) the substance is enough to warrant a death sentence according to Brunei law
- MARCH 2, 2002BruneiDEATH PENALTY
Brunei has drastically toughened penalties for drug...
Brunei has drastically toughened penalties for drug abuse, including wider use of the death penalty, in a desperate bid to curb its drug problem
- FEBRUARY 18, 2002BruneiDEATH PENALTY
A father of seven children and an Ex-RBAF Major, Hj...
A father of seven children and an Ex-RBAF Major, Hj Abdur Rafae'e bin Hj Kassim, 37, was acquitted by the High Court of the death penalty on charges of possessing 864