11,003 cases under SBC recorded as of May 30 this year

A TOTAL of 11,003 cases under the jurisdiction of the Sarawak Bumiputera Court ( SBC) have been recorded as of May 30 this year.

Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department ( Native Laws and Customs) Datuk John Sikie Tayai said out of this number, 5,962 cases have yet to be finalised.

In view of this, he pointed out that SBC will continue to actively organise trainings for its court officers and magistrate staff this year.

“The training is to empower the officers and staff involved in the management and procedures of the court since 2010.

“By providing training to them, this will further speed up court’s proceedings,” he said in response to a question by Yussibnosh Balo ( PBB-Telllian) who wanted to know how many cases have yet to be finalised at the court during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting yesterday.

Sikie pointed out that this year, 14 courses and workshops have been organised involving 1,060 participants.

“SBC is handled by 52 magistrate’s ex- officio comprising 12 Residents of Divisions and 40 district officers.

“For cases concerning Customs Violation, SBC is handled by 2,546 ‘ ketua kaum’, 390 penghulu and 87 pemanca or temenggong,” he explained.

He added that at present, the number of magistrates at SBC is 19 who are appointed on a full-time contract basis.

“The magistrate comprises a president at the Bumiputera Appeals Court, two magistrates at the Bumiputera Residents Court and 16 magistrates at the Bumiputera District Court.

“The main role of the magistrate is to handle civil cases such as Bumiputera customary land dispute cases and Application to be Identified as Bumiputera Community cases,” he said.