Lomaloma Sworn-In as Judge

Fiji’s Judiciary welcomed Penijamini Ravulolo Lomaloma as an Acting Puisne Judge, to the High Court bench on Tuesday.

Mr Lomaloma was sworn-in before President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu at the State House in Suva.

Attending the ceremony were Chief Justice Salesi Temo, Chief Registrar Tomasi Bainivalu and Mr Lomaloma’s family members.

The Attorney-General, Graham Leung, and the Minister for Justice, Siromi Turaga, conveyed their apologies because of Cabinet.

Mr Lomaloma joins the High Court of Fiji as an Acting Puisne Judge. The High Court has unlimited original jurisdiction to hear and determine any civil or criminal proceedings under any law and such other original jurisdiction as is conferred on it under the Law.

It also has original jurisdiction in any matter arising under the Constitution or involving its interpretation. It is also the Court of Disputed Returns in matters affecting elections to Parliament. Further, it has jurisdiction to hear and determine appeals from the lower courts. The High Court also exercises Probate Jurisdiction in dealing with grants and application of probate filed under the Succession, Probate & Administration Act.

Prior to this acting appointment to the High Court, Magistrate Lomaloma served as a Resident Magistrate from November 2023 to date. He presided over cases in the Nasinu, Savusavu, and Taveuni Courts. He has extensive experience in criminal law, including sentencing, trials, writing judgments and rulings, as well as handling civil matters.

Mr Lomaloma also served as a Resident Magistrate at the District Court of Nauru from March 2017 to May 2022. Prior to embarking on a legal career from 1994 after his admission to the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory in Canberra, Australia and subsequently the High Court of Fiji, he was a military officer, graduating as an Infantry Officer from the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst (UK) on December 11, 1981.

He was awarded the Cane of Honour as the Best Overseas Cadet at Sandhurst in 1981. Thereafter, he attended military courses in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji. He served as a chief instructor for Officer Cadets, specialising in tactics and strategy alongside Brigadier Ian Thorpe.

His academic qualifications include:

• Bachelor of Laws – Bond University, Queensland, Australia;
• Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice – The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia;
• Graduate – Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, United Kingdom

Source: DEPTFO News