Singapore appoints judge ad hoc in Pedra Branca case

SINGAPORE has chosen Judge Gilbert Guillaume to sit as judge ad hoc for Malaysia's application for revision of the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) judgment of May 23, 2008, in the case concerning sovereignty over Pedra Branca, Middle Rocks and South Ledge, filed on Feb 2 this year.

Under the Statute of the ICJ, if there is no judge of the nationality of the parties on the Bench of the Court, the parties may each choose a judge ad hoc who will take part in the decision on the case, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)said in a statement on Thursday.

It added that Judge Guillaume was a member of the ICJ from 1987 to 2005, and served as its president from 2000 to 2003. He is a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

The MFA said that Singapore will be filing comprehensive and compelling written observations on the admissibility of Malaysia's application by June 14, which is the time-limit fixed by the ICJ.