Business

Shell MGO bunker heist: 12 former surveyors from Intertek, Inspectorate, CCIC, SGS charged for corruption

Individuals were employees of surveying companies engaged by Shell to inspect the volume of oil loaded onto the vessels which Shell supplied oil to; they allegedly accepted bribes totalling at least USD 213,000.

Published

4 years ago

April 18, 2022

Admin

Twelve individuals were charged in Court on Thursday (14 April) for corruption offences in connection to the conspiracy to misappropriate oil from Shell Eastern Petroleum’s (Shell) Pulau Bukom site.

These 12 individuals were employees of surveying companies engaged by Shell to inspect the volume of oil loaded onto the vessels which Shell supplied oil to.

Between 2014 and 2017, the 12 individuals allegedly accepted bribes totalling at least USD 213,000.

These bribes were either given to them directly, or through intermediaries, by three former employees of Shell; namely Juandi Bin Pungot (Juandi), Muzaffar Ali Khan Bin Muhamad Akram (Muzaffar) and Richard Goh Chee Keong (Richard).

Juandi was sentenced to 29 years’ imprisonment for multiple offences, including offences under Section 6(b) read with Section 29(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, on 31 March 2022. Muzaffar’s and Richard’s cases are currently pending in Court.

These bribes were allegedly given to the 12 individuals as inducement or rewards for refraining from accurately reporting the amount of oil loaded onto vessels which their respective companies were engaged by Shell to inspect. The 12 individuals are:

(1) A Duraisamy (60-year-old male Singaporean), Surveyor with Intertek Testing Services Pte Ltd (Intertek) and Inspectorate Singapore Pte Ltd (Inspectorate) at the material time allegedly accepted bribes totalling USD 31,000. For his actions, he will face three charges for offences punishable under Section 6(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, of which two charges are amalgamated charges under Section 124(4) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

(2) Jasbir Singh S/O Paramjit Singh (37-year-old male Singaporean), Surveyor with Intertek at the material time allegedly accepted bribes totalling USD 15,000. For his actions, he will face a charge for an offence punishable under Section 6(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which is an amalgamated charge under Section 124(4) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

(3) Anand S/O Omprekas (39-year-old male Singaporean), Surveyor with Intertek and CCIC Singapore Pte Ltd (CCIC) at the material time allegedly accepted bribes totalling SGD 20,000. For his actions, he will face two charges for offences punishable under Section 6(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which are amalgamated charges under Section 124(4) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

(4) Noruliman Bin Bakti (40-year-old male Singaporean), Surveyor with Intertek and CCIC at the material time allegedly accepted bribes totalling USD 25,000. For his actions, he will face two charges for offences punishable under Section 6(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which are amalgamated charges under Section 124(4) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

(5) Muhammad Ali Bin Muhammad Nor (55-year-old male Singaporean), Surveyor with Intertek at the material time allegedly accepted bribes totalling USD 90,000. He also allegedly used about SGD 39,000 of his criminal proceeds to purchase a BMW 523i motor vehicle. For his actions, he will face one charge for an offence punishable under Section 6(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which is an amalgamated charge under Section 124(4) of the Criminal Procedure Code. He will also face an additional charge for an offence punishable under Section 47(1)(c) of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act.

(6) Erwin Suhardi Bin Jamaluddin (38-year-old male Singaporean), Surveyor with Intertek at the material time allegedly accepted bribes totalling USD 10,000. For his actions, he will face two charges for offences punishable under Section 6(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

(7) Lee Been Lian (李明連, 57-year-old male Singaporean), Surveyor with Intertek at the material time allegedly accepted a bribe of USD 5,000. For his actions, he will face a charge for an offence punishable under Section 6(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

(8) Naushad Carrim Tengur (45-year-old male Singapore Permanent Resident), Surveyor with Inspectorate at the material time allegedly accepted bribes totalling USD 6,000. For his actions, he will face a charge for an offence punishable under Section 6(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which is an amalgamated charge under Section 124(4) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

(9) Muhammad Khairul Asri Bin Mohamad Hanafiah (38-year-old male Singaporean), Surveyor with Inspectorate at the material time allegedly accepted bribes totalling USD 6,000. For his actions, he will face a charge for an offence punishable under Section 6(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which is an amalgamated charge under Section 124(4) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

(10) Kumunan S/O Rethana Kumaran (40-year-old male Singaporean), Surveyor with CCIC at the material time allegedly accepted bribes totalling USD 12,000. For his actions, he will face a charge for an offence punishable under Section 6(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which is an amalgamated charge under Section 124(4) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

(11) Paramanandham Srinivasan (39-year-old male Indian National), Surveyor with SGS Testing & Control Services Singapore Pte Ltd (SGS) at the material time allegedly accepted a bribe of USD 3,000. For his actions, he will face a charge for an offence punishable under Section 6(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

(12) Rizal Bin Zulkeflee (38-year-old male Singaporean), Surveyor with SGS at the material time allegedly accepted a bribe of USD 10,000. For his actions, he will face a charge for an offence punishable under Section 6(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

“Singapore adopts a strict zero-tolerance approach towards corruption,” stated a Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau statement.

“Any person who is convicted of a corruption offence can be fined up to SGD 100,000 or sentenced to imprisonment of up to five years or to both.”

Earlier coverage of developments by Manifold Times regarding the Shell MGO bunker heist can be found below:

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 18 April, 2022

Biofuel

BHP and GCMD trial multi-feedstock B100 bio bunker fuel on bulk carrier

Bio-blend in the BHP and GCMD pilot is being used on a BHP-chartered bulk carrier “Berge Lyngor”, which was bunkered in Singapore in early May.

Published

17 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Admin

BHP and GCMD trial multi-feedstock B100 bio bunker fuel on bulk carrier

BHP and the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) on Wednesday (3 June) said they have blended biofuels from two distinct feedstocks—used cooking oil and waste animal fats —and introduced the lower-emissions marine fuel into a BHP-chartered bulk carrier as part of a pilot project.

The bio-blend in the BHP and GCMD pilot is being used on a BHP-chartered bulk carrier Berge Lyngor, owned and operated by Berge Bulk, transporting BHP iron ore from Western Australia to China. When run on bio-blend, the vessel has the potential to reduce well-to-wake greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 79 per cent per voyage compared to sailing on very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO).

The vessel bunkered in Singapore in early May with a B100 bio-blend comprising 50 percent tallow-derived biodiesel, sourced and supplied by HAMR Energy, and 50 per cent used cooking oil (UCOME) supplied by Mitsui & Co Energy Trading Singapore (METS).

Mitsui also blended the fuel and Dan-Bunkering coordinated and executed the bunkering operation, which was performed by Global Energy’s barge MT Maple.

The BHP and GCMD pilot will assess how biofuels from multiple feedstocks can be blended, handled, and introduced under real-world operating conditions using existing used cooking oil bunkering infrastructure.

At the same time, insights from this pilot will help identify solutions to challenges related to fuel quality, handling, traceability, and onboard vessel performance.

Biofuels for global shipping today rely heavily on used cooking oil – a feedstock whose availability is approaching its projected limits. Biofuel from waste animal fats presents a promising option to expand the supply of lower-emissions marine fuels.

The outcomes of the pilot are expected to shed light on the practical steps to integrate biofuel blends from different feedstocks into existing supply chains. The diversity of biofuels will provide shipowners and operators with greater flexibility to optimise fuel procurement based on cost, availability, and lifecycle emissions performance.

Biofuels derived from different feedstocks can exhibit varying properties that may impact operations, including potential corrosion from oxidation, fuel system clogging caused by wax formation, which this pilot aims to assess.

The pilot will trace and verify the biofuel blend’s integrity aimed at bolstering confidence in emissions reductions reporting. The pilot will also provide insights into how robust tracing can support future marine fuel supply chains where biofuels from multiple feedstocks with varying lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions footprints are blended together.

This project is co-funded by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore under the Maritime Innovation and Technology Fund (MINT).

Photo credit: Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation
Published: 3 June, 2026

Biofuel

NYK starts one-year B100 bio bunker fuel trial on car carrier

In this trial, NYK will operate a car carrier continuously on B100 for one year to evaluate the impact on engines, fuel supply systems, and operational practices.

Published

17 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Admin

NYK starts one-year B100 bio bunker fuel trial on car carrier

Japanese shipping firm NYK on Tuesday (2 June) said it has commenced a one-year long-term trial involving the continuous use of 100% biofuel (B100) on an NYK-operated car carrier.

In this trial, NYK will operate a car carrier continuously on B100 for one year to evaluate the impact on engines, fuel supply systems, and operational practices. High-purity biofuels such as B100 are known to be susceptible to degradation from oxygen, light, and heat, raising concerns about the stability of such fuels during long-term use.

In this trial, the biofuel primarily comprises FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester) derived from used cooking oil and similar feedstocks.

The initiative is designed to evaluate the fuel’s effects on the vessel’s equipment and verify operational safety under real-world conditions.

Through this effort, NYK seeks to accumulate technical expertise that will support the broader use of high-purity biofuels and further accelerate efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

NYK has been advancing the use of biofuels through various initiatives. In 2024, the company conducted a trial using biofuel blend B24 and subsequently expanded practical usage to B30. However, the company said there remains limited global experience with the long-term continuous use of B100.

“By collecting long-term operational data through this trial, NYK aims to accumulate valuable technical insights to support both the safe operation of vessels and the wider adoption of high-purity biofuels,” it said.

Photo credit: NYK
Published: 3 June, 2026

Ammonia

AM Green plans to build green ammonia plant at Indian port

Initiative also includes development of green ammonia handling, storage and bunkering infrastructure, pilot bunkering operations, safety procedures and training programmes, says VOC Port Authority.

Published

17 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Admin

VO Chidambaranar (VOC) Port Authority on Friday (29 May) said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India’s ammonia producer AM Green Ammonia to collaborate in the development of a green ammonia production plant.

The plant will have a capacity of one million tonnes per annum (MTPA) at Tuticorin.

The initiative also includes development of green ammonia handling, storage and bunkering infrastructure, pilot bunkering operations, safety procedures and training programmes.

The project is expected to support the development of green fuel corridors connecting VOC Port with major ports in Europe and Asia, thereby strengthening India’s position in the global green fuels value chain.

VOC Port also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bureau Veritas (India) Pvt. Ltd., to collaborate on Green Port certification, emissions accounting, ESG reporting, safety validation, development of green bunkering practices, and establishment of a Centre of Excellence for green fuels and sustainability.

The port also plans for an upcoming 750 m³ green methanol bunkering facility.

Photo credit: Naveed Ahmed on Unsplash
Published: 3 June, 2026

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Manifold Times

Shell MGO bunker heist: 12 former surveyors from Intertek, Inspectorate, CCIC, SGS charged for corruption

Business

Shell MGO bunker heist: 12 former surveyors from Intertek, Inspectorate, CCIC, SGS charged for corruption

Biofuel

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