A man, who was an operations executive with Singapore-based Sentek Marine & Trading (Sentek), was sentenced to two months’ jail on Friday (31 January), according to CNA.

Wong Wai Seng lied to police about the whereabouts of three bunker clerks involved in the Shell Pulau Bukom fuel heist. 

Wong pleaded guilty to one charge of perverting the course of justice while four charges of abetting corruption by giving the bunker clerks bribes to remain outside of Singapore and avoid investigations were considered in sentencing. 

Manifold Times previously reported three bunker clerks, previously employed by Sentek, being charged in Court for offences under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act (CDSA) and the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA). 

They were Singaporeans Wong Kuin Wah, Wong Wai Meng, and Boo Pu Wen.

It was alleged that Wai Meng, Kuin Wah and Pu Wen intentionally aided Sentek in acquiring property which was another person’s benefits from criminal conduct, by assisting to receive on board their respective vessels, gasoil which had been dishonestly misappropriated from Shell Eastern Petroleum (Pte) Ltd’s facility (Shell Pulau Bukom). 

They were charged for offences under Section 47(3) of the CDSA, read with Section 109 of the Penal Code, and punishable under Section 47(6)(a) of the CDSA. 

CNA reported that Wai Seng relayed instructions from Sentek’s managing director Pai Keng Pheng to the bunker clerks including instructing them to leave Singapore in January 2018. This resulted in Wai Meng, who is Wai Seng’s brother, leaving for Medan.

Wong also told Boo and Wong Kuin Wah who were on board different Sentek vessels, to not return to shore. 

On Pai’s instructions, Wong also told the bunker clerks to throw away their work phones, which contained messages relating to the fuel heist.

The trio remained in hiding at D’Merlion Hotel in Batam for almost three years until January 2021, when they returned to Singapore and were arrested.

Wong Wai Meng was sentenced to seven years, four months and two weeks’ jail for helping the company acquire more than 28,000 metric tonnes (mt) of the misappropriated fuel worth USD 13.58 million (SGD 18.26 million)

Meanwhile, Wong Kuin Wah was sentenced to seven years and six months’ jail on 18 November for his role in misappropriating more than 27,000 tonnes of gas oil worth around USD 12.8 million (SGD 17.2 million).

The third individual who was charged, Boo Pu Wen, reportedly passed away in July 2023 and had his charges abated following his death, meaning Boo’s court proceedings over his 19 charges at the time came to an end. 

Former Shell employees, who were key members of a group who dishonestly misappropriated fuel from Shell Pulau Bukom, were sentenced to jail in court earlier.

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

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Photo credit: Sora Shimazaki
Published: 3 February, 2025