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U.N. report identifies Winson Group as ‘key node’ of DPRK fuel procurement activities

Given substantive links, the Panel continues to investigate Winson Group and its subsidiaries, and gasoil purchaser Zfullboto Co. Ltd (中盛博通有限公司).

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A U.N. Security Council report published on 8 September alleges Singapore-based Winson Group, a firm engaged primarily in international wholesale oil trading and high-seas bunkering, to be a “key node” in the illicit fuel procurement activities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The Panel, based on a recent report and subsequent media articles, initiated an enquiry into transactions related to the sale of gasoil and the subsequent ship-to-ship (STS) transfer between the then Nauru-flagged Super Star (IMO No. 9085388) and the unknown-flagged Diamond 8 (IMO No. 9132612) on or around 1 May 2020 (UTC) and again on or around 14 June 2020 (UTC) in apparent violation of resolution 2397 (2017) and paragraph 18 of resolution 2375 (2017).

In April 2021, the Panel requested financial records and trade documentation regarding the activities of the Winson Group related to, inter alia, the Super Star and Diamond 8. The Panel also asked for clarification as to the due diligence processes and procedures of the Winson Group to mitigate sanctions evasion risks. In its reply to the Panel, the Winson Group noted its commitment to sanctions compliance and provided a summary of its due diligence procedures, which the company put into place in 2018.

In explaining the ship-to-ship transfers between the Super Star and Diamond 8, the Winson Group stated that its wholesale customer, Sino Global Trade Co. Ltd (formerly Super Gold Holdings Inc., hereafter “Sino Global”) time-chartered the Super Star from a Winson entity, Golden Shelter Limited. Sino Global then nominated the Super Star to take delivery of gasoil from Winson Oil (Wholesale) Pte Ltd, on a free-on-board basis. Sino Global went on to sell portions of this gasoil to a company named “Zfullboto Co. Ltd” (中盛博通有限公司), which nominated the Diamond 8 to Sino Global to take delivery via ship-to-ship transfer with the Super Star.

Winson representatives also reported to the Panel that the Group had conducted due diligence screenings on Sino Global, finding that its sole shareholder and director was Mr. Chien Chih-wei (簡志瑋) and that the company was not listed on any designated entities lists. The contracts for gasoil between Winson and Sino Global specifically note: “The product of this contract will not be sold to North Korea or any North Korean entity or any other sanctioned countries.” According to a senior Winson Group corporate officer, “Winson was not involved in the sale of cargoes from Sino Global to Zfullboto, and/or Zfullboto’s nomination of DIAMOND 8 to Sino Global” and an individual named “Ivy” was the operator for Zfullboto.

However, information obtained by the Panel shows that Mr. Chien Chi-wei used the address No. 150 Cheng’ai Road, Fengshan District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan Province of China, to register Sino Global. This is the same address used by a senior Winson Group employee for an IMO application for the vessel An Ping (IMO No. 7903366),113 which listed the ship’s owner as Spring Gain International Limited. The same employee also used a Winson Group email on the application, alongside a phone and fax number linked to Winson Shipping (Taiwan) Co., Ltd.

A review of social media records suggests that the aforementioned employee and Mr. Chien are closely related. Furthermore, social media records obtained by the Panel show that Mr. Chien maintains close relationships with several individuals who occupy senior positions at Winson Shipping (Taiwan) Co., Ltd., Jiu Li Shuen Trading and Taishun Trading. Given these substantive links, the Panel is continuing to investigate the Winson Group and its subsidiaries, as well as the owners and operators of Zfullboto.

Winson Group network

Editor’s note: The full U.N. Security Council report entitled Midterm report of the Panel of Experts submitted pursuant to resolution 2569 (2021)” can be downloaded from the official website here.

 

Photo credit: Ilyass SEDDOUG from Unsplash
Published: 6 October, 2021

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Legal

Singapore withdraws remaining 127 charges against Hin Leong founder OK Lim

Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges on 17 July.

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RESIZED Sora Shimazaki on Pexels

Founder of collapsed oil trader Hin Leong Trading, Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, has had the remaining 127 charges against him withdrawn, according to The Straits Times on Monday (20 July). 

OK Lim was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges, including those for cheating, on 17 July. The discharge means Lim cannot be prosecuted again for the same offences.

Lim, 84, is currently serving a 13½-year prison sentence after the High Court reduced his original 17½-year jail term in March 2026. He was convicted in 2024 on two cheating charges and one count of abetting forgery in a case prosecutors described as one of Singapore’s most serious trade finance frauds.

Lim was convicted in May 2024 of two charges of cheating the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and one count of abetting forgery that proceeded to trial out of a total of 130 criminal charges.

He was first charged in court on 14 August 2020, and was subsequently handed further charges in court on 25 September 2020, 30 April 2021 and 24 June 2021 for his role in perpetuating fraud on various financial institutions. 

A total of 130 charges were eventually brought against him for cheating and forgery-related offences.

Related: Singapore: Hin Leong Founder OK Lim gets jail term slashed to 13.5 years

 

Photo credit: Sora Shimazaki
Published: 21 July, 2026

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Winding up

Singapore: Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd to be wound up voluntarily

Coastal Logistics was reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

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RESIZED Drew Beamer

Several resolutions for Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd were made during an extraordinary general meeting held on 14 July, according to a notice in the Government Gazette on Friday (4 July).

The following resolutions were duly passed during the meeting:

As Special Resolution

  • That it has been proved to the satisfaction of the meeting that the Company cannot by reason of its liabilities continue its business and accordingly the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 160(1)(b) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (No. 40 of 2018);

As Ordinary Resolutions

  • that Mr. Wong Pheng Cheong Martin and Ms. Koay May Yee, both care of FTI Consulting (Singapore) Pte Ltd, One Raffles Quay, #27-10 South Tower, Singapore 048583 be appointed as the joint and several Liquidators of the Company for the purpose of such winding up; and
  • that the Liquidators be at liberty to open, maintain and operate any bank account(s) or account(s) for monies received by them as Liquidators with such bank(s) as they deem fit; and
  • that a Committee of Inspection will not be formed.

Manifold Times previously reported Nicholas James Gronow, director of Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping and Coastal Logistics, filed statutory declarations for both companies stating the firms cannot continue their businesses due to liabilities.

Both companies were reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd. 

In 2019, several vessels owned by both firms entered the sale & purchase (S&P) market in Singapore.

Related: Singapore: Director declares Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping’s inability to continue business
Related: Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping in court over DBS Bank bunker tanker loan
Related: Singapore: Bunker tanker “Coastal Neptune” arrested
Related: Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping, Coastal Logistics tankers enter S&P market

 

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 21 July, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

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PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. 

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post. 

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024. 

 

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026

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