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Former Director and shareholder of Wee Tiong (S) Pte Ltd pleads guilty to DPRK linked transactions

Between November 2016 and October 2017, Mr Tan falsified at least 20 invoices and submitted these invoices to UOB and OCBC, according to court documents obtained by bunkering publication Manifold Times.

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The former Director and shareholder of Wee Tiong (S) Pte Ltd (WTPL), also the Director of sister company Morgan Marcos Pte Ltd (MMPL), pleaded guilty over several Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) related transactions at the State Courts of Singapore on Monday (11 October).

Specifically, Tan Wee Beng faced 20 charges under section 477A of the Penal Code (Cap. 224) (PC) for falsifying invoices of two companies; he has pleaded guilty to seven proceeded charges and consented to have the remaining 13 charges taken into consideration.

Between November 2016 and October 2017, Mr Tan falsified at least 20 invoices and submitted these invoices to UOB and OCBC, according to court documents obtained by bunkering publication Manifold Times.

As at November 2016, the credit facilities granted by UOB to companies in the Wee Tiong group totalled about SGD 125 million; this included SGD 38.678 million, a USD 1 million credit line, foreign exchange facilities of SGD 5 million, as well as vessel and property term loans granted to WTPL.

MMPL maintained bank accounts with UOB, while WTPL maintained bank accounts with OCBC.

Mr Tan knew the information he was hiding was important and relevant to the banks, and could have resulted in the termination of WTPL’s lines of credit should the financial institutions find out about the its DPRK related dealings, stated court documents.

Transactions of sugar and other goods with DPRK-linked entities

From 2007 or 2008, Mr Tan started trading with Korea Heung Song Trading Co, Dandong Fuda Coal Trading Co Ltd, and Tongyuan Industrial Co Ltd which were amongst firms owned by Ri Nam Sok (Ri) from DPRK; payments for the goods relating to Ri were received into WTPL’s UOB bank account.

Further, from 2010, Mr Tan started trading with Korea Investment and Development Co and Qinglin Trading Co Ltd which were firms owned by DPRK national Jon Chol Ho; payments for the goods relating to Jon were received into MMPL’s UOB bank account.

UOB and OCBC started queries of deposits between 2016 and 2017

Mr Tan started receiving queries from UOB in November 2016, March 2017 and October 2017, and from OCBC in September 2017 concerning certain deposits of monies into WTPL and MMPL’s bank accounts.

Knowing the consequences should the banks find out of the DPRK related transactions, he sought the help of co-accused Bong Hui Ping who was working as a shipping manager at WTPL to conceal the illicit activities from UOB and OCBC.

Hui Ping assisted Mr Tan to prepare false invoices in the name of WTPL and MMPL by changing the names of the end buyers and in some cases, also the destination ports, of the false invoices to remove any references to Jon and Ri’s companies and DPRK ports.

Mr Tan signed and shared the false invoices with UOB and OCBC while lying the queried deposits were payments made for purchases of goods by companies other than Ri and Jon’s companies.

In total, Mr Tan falsified seven papers belonging to WTPL and MMPL to conceal from UOB and OCBC that WTPL had transacted with an entity linked to the DPRK.

OFAC action against Wee Tiong Group companies

Manifold Times in October 2018 reported the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designating marine fuels company WT Marine Pte Ltd, WTPL, and Mr Tan for laundering money in support of North Korea.

According to OFAC, in 2017 the JW JEWEL (IMO: 9402964) and NYMEX STAR (IMO: 9078191), both Singapore-flagged oil tankers operated and managed by WT Marine Pte Ltd, engaged in illicit economic activity that involves or supports the Government of North Korea.

In June 2020, Mr Tan was charged in Singapore for 20 alleged counts of forgery to cover his tracks from banks after having sold sugar to parties from North Korea from his company Wee Tiong Pte Ltd and its affiliated firm, Morgan Marcos.

Related: Singapore marine fuels firm WT Marine in OFAC sanctions blacklist
Related: Singaporean MD on FBI most wanted list charged with fraud over North Korean dealings

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 12 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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