Singaporean acting as liquidator for several firms allegedly misappropriated nearly $2.5 mil

A Singaporean man, who was a former director of various firms, was charged on Friday (3 October) for allegedly misappropriating a total of about $2.5 million while serving as an appointed liquidator for other companies, The Straits Times reported. 

Tee Wey Lih, 48, is accused of eight counts of criminal breach of trust and allegedly committed the offences between 2020 and 2022. Each charge involve around $128,000 to $705,000. 

Between 28 June and 22 August 2022, Tee was the appointed liquidator of Rife Engineering and was entrusted with the $705,000, which he allegedly misappropriated.

He allegedly committed similar offences during his tenure as the appointed liquidator for other companies including Brightoil 639 Oil Tanker, United Legal Alliance, Newstead Technologies and Plantation Management Partners. 

According to previous reports by Manifold Times dating as far back as 2021, Tee was appointed as the provisional liquidator of several special purpose vehicles (SPVs) ultimately under Brightoil Petroleum (Holdings) Limited. 

The SPVs include Brightoil 319 Oil Tanker Pte Ltd, Brightoil 329 Oil Tanker Pte Ltd, Brightoil 639 Oil Tanker Pte Ltd, Brightoil 666 Oil Tanker Pte Ltd, and Brightoil 688 Oil Tanker Pte Ltd.

Related: Singapore: Brightoil Director declares oil tanker SPVs unable continue business
Related: Singapore: Notice of intended dividend announced for Brightoil bunker tanker SPVs

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 7 October, 2025