Legal

Magnets on MFMs: Trial ends with ten-month imprisonment term for Bunker Clerk of “Fragrance”

Mok’s offence affected public confidence in the use of the MFM system onboard Singapore bunker tankers, and caused an embarrassment to the MPA, said Deputy Public Prosecutors.

Published

6 years ago

September 11, 2020

Admin

A ten-day trial at the State Courts of Singapore ended on Thursday (10 September) with Mok Chek Meng, the bunker clerk of bunker tanker Fragrance, being sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment.

This was the first trial under Section 7(1)(b) read with Section 10(1) of the Computer Misuse Act, Chapter 50A (CMA), involving a bunker clerk who directed his crew to use an industrial strength magnet to tamper with the mass flow meter (MFM) on board a bunker tanker in order to illegally tamper with the amount of marine fuel recorded as being delivered to a receiving vessel, a spokesperson from the Attorney-General’s Chambers told Manifold Times.

Mok’s offence was classified under the lower end of the medium culpability range, and sever harm category under a sentencing framework referenced from a related case.

He conspired with his subordinate, Nurharyadi, by instructing him to use an industrial strength magnet to modify the readings of the MFM System on board Singapore bunker tanker Fragrance while it was delivering marine fuel to the receiving vessel Southern Glory.

According to court documents, Mok was a qualified cargo officer employed with Ocean Xpress Services; he was also the key person giving instructions on the use of the magnet on board Fragrance.

Records showed Mok’s employer in Ocean Xpress Services earlier instructing all of his bunker clerks, including Mok, that they could use a magnet to increase the readings recorded on the MFM.

But after the police caught them using the magnet onboard the “Southernpec”, the employer instructed his bunker clerks, including Mok, not to use the magnets again. However, Mok was caught with the magnet on 13 June 2019.

Deputy Public Prosecutors noted Mok’s offence affected public confidence in the use of the MFM system onboard Singapore bunker tankers, and caused an embarrassment to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

They recommended the Court to impose a sufficiently deterrent sentence to send a strong signal to the industry that it would not tolerate any attempt, whether magnets or otherwise, to undermine the integrity of the MFM system.

The present offence is notoriously difficult to detect and could become rampant if not firmly dealt with, added the prosecution.

They also believed the offences likely involved other third parties who would purchase the surplus marine fuel from Mok.

“Deterrence is relevant in such crimes because the group dynamics suggest that premeditation, sophistication and planning was involved,” said the prosecution in their sentencing submissions.

“The fact that a syndicate is involved in tampering bunker barges in the open seas also makes the offence difficult to detect because there is no one who can scrutinise their conduct for compliance.”

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 11 September, 2020

Winding up

Singapore: Liquidators of East Marine Pte Ltd issues notice of annual meeting

Annual meeting of the company and its creditors will be held at 8 Wilkie Road, #03-08 Wilkie Edge, Singapore 228095 via audio-visual conference on 20 August at 11am.

Published

4 hours ago

August 12, 2026

Admin

A notice of annual meeting was issued by liquidators of East Marine Pte Ltd, which is in creditor’s voluntary liquidation, on the Government Gazette on Friday (7 August).

According to the notice, the annual meeting of the company and its creditors will be held at 8 Wilkie Road, #03-08 Wilkie Edge, Singapore 228095 via audio-visual conference on 20 August at 11am.

The purpose of the meeting is to have an account laid before the meeting showing the acts and dealings of the liquidators and the conduct of the winding up in the preceding year.

The following are the details of the liquidators:

Ng Kian Kiat
Yap Hui Li
Liquidators
c/o 8 Wilkie Road
#03-08 Wilkie Edge
Singapore 228095

Photo credit: steve pb from Pixabay
Published: 12 August, 2026

Winding up

Singapore: Annual and final meetings to be held for Asia-Pacific Shipyard Pte Ltd

Annual meeting and the final meeting of the company and its creditors will be held at 8 Wilkie Road, #03-08 Wilkie Edge, Singapore 228095 via audio-visual conference on 9 September.

Published

4 hours ago

August 12, 2026

Admin

A notice of annual meeting and final meeting was issued by liquidators of Asia-Pacific Shipyard Pte Ltd, which is in creditor’s voluntary liquidation, on the Government Gazette on Friday (7 August).

According to the notice, the annual meeting and the final meeting of the company and its creditors will be held at 8 Wilkie Road, #03-08 Wilkie Edge, Singapore 228095 via audio-visual conference on 9 September.

The annual meeting will be held at 2pm while the final meeting will be held at 3pm.

The purpose of the meeting is to have an account laid before the meeting showing the acts and dealings of the liquidators and the conduct of the winding up in the preceding year and the manner in which the winding up has been conducted and the property of the company has been disposed of and hearing any explanation that may be given by the liquidators.

The following are the details of the liquidators:

Ng Kian Kiat
Yap Hui Li
Liquidators
c/o 8 Wilkie Road
#03-08 Wilkie Edge
Singapore 228095

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 12 August, 2026

Sanctions

Reed Smith relocates sanctions partner Alex Brandt from London to Singapore

Brandt’s relocation to the city-state is a direct response to increased client demand for sanctions advice in Asia, says law firm.

Published

5 hours ago

August 12, 2026

Admin

Reed Smith relocates sanctions partner Alex Brandt from London to Singapore

Global law firm Reed Smith on Tuesday (11 August) announced the relocation of global shipping and sanctions partner Alex Brandt from London to Singapore.

Brandt advises insurers, owners, charterers, brokers, and traders on all aspects of sanctions-related challenges, providing analysis of applicable legislation, assistance with due diligence work, and training.

He has extensive experience of U.S. and UK government investigations, disclosures, and enforcement actions and has been centrally involved in many of the most high-profile designations, seizures, and enforcement actions brought against members of the international shipping community.

Brandt also has wide-ranging experience drafting protective language for transportation, trade and financing contracts, and has worked with major lenders and other organisations to develop best-in-class compliance programmes. He also has sat on a number of BIMCO and other organisations’ drafting committees, assisting in the development of industry standard clauses.

In addition to his role in the global sanctions practice, Brandt routinely advises on contractual and tortious rights and obligations pertaining to a wide range of dry shipping matters, including charterparties, P&I club rules, bills of lading, ship sales and purchases, and shipbuilding.

Brandt has previously spent four years in Reed Smith’s Hong Kong office, where in addition to his dry shipping work, he assisted in a number of casualty investigations and criminal prosecutions arising from major casualties.

Praj Samant, Reed Smith’s Asia-Pacific managing partner, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Alex to the Singapore office, and back to Asia. He is a tremendous talent with a global perspective and commercial outlook, which is an invaluable asset to clients both in the region and beyond.”

Richard Hakes, global chair of Reed Smith’s Transportation Industry Group, said: “Our transportation practice’s commitment to Asia and to our clients based in the region is longstanding and Alex’s relocation is a direct response to the needs of our clients. We have a leading and growing shipping practice across Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore – with a number of new arrivals in the last year. Alex will be joining that team at an exciting time for us, and at a time where there is high regional demand for his complex sanctions advice.”

Brandt added: “I am delighted to be making the move to a region I am very familiar with already. It is clear that our global clients require increased support in the region, and I look forward to working with the regional team here, as well as continuing to collaborate with our market-leading sanctions team globally.”

Photo credit: Reed Smith
Published: 12 August, 2026