BP Singapore bunker trial: Court sentences guilty parties to 54 month-imprisonment; duo to appeal decision

Singapore bunker publication Manifold Times was present at the BP Singapore bunker trial on Tuesday (11 May). The following report represents a summarised extract of the morning’s hearing:

District Judge Ong Chin Rhu on Tuesday (11 May) issued sentences to the Executive Director of Pacific Prime Trading (PPT) and former Regional Marine Manager of BP Singapore at the State Courts of Singapore over corruption charges.

Judge Ong earlier found  Koh Seng Lee of PPT and Clarence Chang who formerly worked for BP Singapore each guilty of 19 charges under Section 6(b) and 6(a) as well as 1 charge under s 5(b)(i) and 5(a)(i) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Cap 241., otherwise known as the Prevention of Corruption Act which is the primary anti-corruption law in Singapore.

Tuesday’s development saw the Judge issuing a 54-month (four years six months) jail term each for Koh and Chang.

In addition, Chang was issued a penalty of SGD 6 million (exact: SGD 6,220,095); he will face an additional 28-month imprisonment term if he decides not to pay the penalty.

Legal representatives of Koh and Chang expressed to the judge their clients’ decision to appeal the sentences.

Judge Ong has fixed a Pre-Trial Conference (PTC) for hearing on 24 June.

Koh and Chang are both scheduled to be out on bail after respective payment of SGD 350,000 and SGD 215,000.

Editorial coverage by Manifold Times regarding earlier court sessions of the BP Singapore bunker bribery trial are organised in descending chronological order (latest to earliest) below:

Related: BP Singapore bunker trial: State Courts Judge to present sentencing verdict coming May
Related: BP Singapore bunker trial: Court hearing adjourned to late March 2021 [Short update]
Related: BP Singapore bunker trial: DPP proposes 92-month imprisonment sentence for guilty parties
Related: BP Singapore bunker trial: Judge finds suspects guilty of corruption, sentencing in September
Related: BP Singapore bunker trial nears end as legal reps present summary submissions
Related: BP Singapore bunker trial: Last minute evidence surfaces at State Courts
Related: BP Singapore bunker trial: Former Ops Manager cross examined
Related: BP Singapore bunker trial: Cross examination of ex-Regional Marine Manager starts
Related: BP Singapore bunker trial: Former Market Manager takes to stand as witness
Related: BP Singapore bunker trial: Pacific Prime Trading Director cross examination continues
Related: BP Singapore bunker trial: Pacific Prime Trading Director undergoes cross examination
Related: BP Singapore bunker trial: Prosecution and Defence present submissions (Part 2)
Related: BP Singapore bunker trial: Prosecution and Defence present submissions (Part 1)
Related: BP Singapore bunker bribery case update: BP bunker trade data in question
Related: BP Singapore bunker bribery case update: CPIB officer takes to the stand
Related: UPDATE: BP Singapore bunker bribery case
Related: BP Singapore bunker bribery case continues

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 11 May, 2021