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BP Singapore bunker trial: Cross examination of ex-Regional Marine Manager starts

Clarence Chang speaks about errors in his CPIB statement, support for Pacific Prime Trading, and how PPT averted a ‘crisis’ BP Singapore faced in December 2009.

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Manifold Times was present at the BP Singapore bunker trial on Tuesday (28 May). The following report represents a brief extract of the day’s trial:

The BP Singapore bunker trial continued on Tuesday (28 May) at the State Courts of Singapore with the examination of Clarence Chang, the ex-Regional Marine Manager of BP Singapore Pte Ltd, largely by Andre Maniam, Senior Counsel at WongPartnership, representing Chang.

Chang was facing 20 charges for allegedly accepting bribes totalling USD $3.95 million from Koh Seng Lee, the sole shareholder and executive director of Pacific Prime Trading (PPT), between the period of July 31, 2006 and July 26, 2010.

Inaccuracies in CPIB statement

Chang noted several inaccuracies in an earlier statement recorded by Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) Investigation Officer, Bay Chun How, on 18 October 2011.

The CPIB statement noted Chang, who has certified its accuracy with his signature, first knowing Koh in 1999; discussing the idea of setting up PPT with Koh in 2004; and naming Searights as a trading counterparty of BP.

In court, Chang clarified he first knew Koh in 1997 as it was the year he first joined BP; while 2001 was the year he discussed starting PPT with Koh; and Searights was “never a counterparty [of BP]”.

“You told us two dates which were incorrect 1999, 2004, while Searights was also not correct. Why didn’t you correct it before you signed the statement?” Questioned Maniam.

“I was in a rush at that time and my mind didn’t want to waste time on this as my priority was not to miss the settlement agreement. I basically tried to rush it,” Chang replied, explaining he and five other ex-BP colleagues were scheduled to sign a settlement agreement with BP on the same day as the interview at CPIB.

Chang and his five ex-colleagues reached a settlement agreement outside court with BP in October 2011 when they were accused by the oil major for breach of contract after leaving to work for Chinese oil company Brightoil Petroleum.

“If five of them signed [the settlement agreement] I thought I will have to face BP all by myself. I was not going to allow that at that time. I basically wanted to get out and sign the settlement agreement.”

Support for Pacific Prime Trading

In court, Chang recounted how he proposed and suggested to Koh of starting a new bunkering firm when he learnt of New Orient, a bunkering firm where Koh was a former Director, was planning to leave the Singapore market.

The decision to approach and increase business with Koh was due to BP being “very concerned” about the amount of customer complaints the oil major was facing from marine fuel provided by other Singapore bunker suppliers.

“We went to Mr Koh to ask him to increase the number of back to back business with us because he has a good track record with us while at the same time we wanted to reduce volume with Coastal,” said Chang.

“Koh said ‘we cannot do that’ because New Orient is going to withdraw from Singapore soon. That was then we asked him what his plans were, whether he was stopping as director [of New Orient] or want to set up his own [company]?

“He said he has no plans. After a couple of months, Koh said he wanted to setup his own company and he asked if we could help him.”

Chang said BP was also looking for more revenue and was willing to help Koh, who was already registered as a “representative” in the BP system. He noted BP Singapore adding 15 trading counter parties between 2000 and 2001.

“At that time in 2001, BP was in a positon to get as many trading counter parties as possible to improve our sales and business. I say we will surely welcome Mr Koh to work with BP. If we lost New Orient, we lose a part of the business.”

BP Singapore ‘crisis’ in December 2009

Chang later explained a paragraph in the CPIB statement, suggesting him showing favour to PPT by offering the company “good pricing” for marine fuel during a trade in December 2009.

“At that time, we had a crisis situation where we couldn’t sell any ex-wharf for Q1 2010,” he claimed.

“In December 2009, the MOPS versus Bunkerwire spread was negative $1.50 in a one-month average. If you buy ex-wharf of MOPS +2 and you pay barging you lose even more.

“Many suppliers reduced their price quite alot to move volume. Basically at that time our traders didn’t want to move the price down and staff couldn’t sell any [bunkers] to trading counterparties. Koh also didn’t want to buy from us.

“In my career we have never not sold term for the whole quarter so I didn’t want to do that. On that basis, I told my traders to get the best price and offer it to PPT.

“PTT is the biggest customer for us, if they buy then the biggest problem is solved. We also have alot of back to back with Mr Koh and we want to make sure Koh has the volume to supply. To give volume serves two purposes, both serving BP.

“The month we managed to get Koh to buy 110kt was usually lower than what he usually buys; we also sold another 40kt to another party at the same price.”

Koh Seng Lee’s spoken language

Chelva Retnam Rajah, Partner of Tan Rajah & Cheah, who represents Koh, followed up on Maniam’s examination of Chang with a single question.

“Could you let us know in all your meetings and business dealings with Mr Koh what language does he speaks?” Asks Rajah.

“Hokkien and Mandarin,” replied Chang.

Earlier court sessions of the BP Singapore bunker trial are organised in chronological order below:

Related: BP Singapore bunker trial: Former Market Manager takes to stand as witness
RelatedBP Singapore bunker trial: Pacific Prime Trading Director cross examination continues
RelatedBP Singapore bunker trial: Pacific Prime Trading Director undergoes cross examination
RelatedBP Singapore bunker trial: Prosecution and Defence present submissions (Part 2)
RelatedBP Singapore bunker trial: Prosecution and Defence present submissions (Part 1)
RelatedBP Singapore bunker bribery case update: BP bunker trade data in question
RelatedBP Singapore bunker bribery case update: CPIB officer takes to the stand
RelatedUPDATE: BP Singapore bunker bribery case
RelatedBP Singapore bunker bribery case continues

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 29 May, 2019
 

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Incident

India: MSC faces USD 1.1 billion lawsuit from Kerala state over “MSC ELSA 3” bunker spill

Reports noted approximately 84 mt of diesel and 376 mt of fuel oil on board the stricken vessel when it sank carrying 643 boxes.

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MSC Elsa 3 MT

Swiss-based Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is reportedly facing a USD 1.1 billion lawsuit from India’s southern state of Kerala which is seeking compensation over marine fuel leaked from MSC ELSA 3 into the Arabian Sea in May.

The High Court of Kerala on Monday (7 July) ordered authorities to seize containership MSC Akiteta II which was anchored in Vizhinjam Port until securities for the claim amount are deposited.

The 1,700 TEU capacity containership MSC ELSA 3 was sailing from Vizhinjam to Kochi when failure in its ballast management system caused it to sink on 25 May about 13 nautical miles off the coast of Kerala.

Reports noted approximately 84 metric tonnes (mt) of diesel and 376 mt of fuel oil on board the stricken vessel when it sank carrying 643 boxes.

 

Photo credit: Indian Ministry of Defence
Published: 9 July 2025

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Legal

Shell MGO bunker heist: Co-conspirator receives 302-month jail sentence

Abdul Latif Bin Ibrahim and accomplices siphoned over 150,000 mt of gasoil worth at least USD 74 million from Shell Pukom between August 2014 and January 2018.

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A Judge at the High Court of the Republic of Singapore on Monday (7 July) sentenced Abdul Latif Bin Ibrahim, a former Process Technician working at Shell Pulau Bukom, to a jail term of 25 years and two months (302 months), reported the Straits Times.

Latif pleaded guilty to a total of 30 charges – 20 charges under criminal breach of trust and 10 charges under money laundering – while consenting to have 34 remaining charges taken into consideration for the purposes of sentencing.

The 67-year-old male is due to start his prison sentence on 30 September 2025.

Court documents obtained by Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times showed Latif, with the help of other rogue Shell employees, siphoning over 150,000 metric tonnes (mt) of gasoil valued at least USD 74,469,000 (approximately SGD 100,601,000) from Shell Eastern Petroleum Pte Ltd’s (Shell) Pulau Bukom facility between August 2014 and January 2018.

Latif was arrested on 7 January 2018.

Investigations found him receiving a total of at least about SGD 7 million in criminal benefits between 2014 to 2018, of which he spent these monies on luxury watches, foreign property, cars, amongst others.

Authorities have seized assets worth approximately SGD 7.67 million from Latif; amongst recovered are:

  • One Rolex Daytona (leather strap) watch worth SGD 28,800
  • One Frank Muller watch worth SGD 7,000
  • One Frank Muller watch worth SGD 8,000
  • 03 packs of 1,000 pcs of SGD 1,000 notes worth SGD 3 million
  • 991 pcs of 1,000 pcs of SGD 1,000 notes worth SGD 991,000
  • 400 pcs of 1,000 pcs of SGD 1,000 notes worth SGD 400,000
  • Sales balance proceeds of BMW M5 worth SGD 174,300
  • Sales balance proceeds of Mercedes Benz E43 worth SGD 276,200
  • Sales balance proceeds of Aston Martin DBS Coupe worth SGD 338,200
  • Sale proceeds from property at St Martin’s Dr worth SGD 670,000
  • Sale proceeds from property at Suites@Braddell worth SGD 557,200

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

Related: Shell MGO bunker heist: Man sentenced to jail for hindering police investigations
Related: Shell MGO bunker heist: Bunker clerk gets jail time for helping Sentek acquire misappropriated fuel
Related: Shell MGO bunker heist: Bunker clerk pleads guilty to helping Sentek acquire misappropriated fuel
Related: Shell MGO bunker heist: Ex-Shell employees sentenced to more than 23 years in prison each
Related: Shell MGO bunker heist: Ex-Shell employees plead guilty to multiple offences
Related: Shell MGO bunker heist: Ex-Shell employee receives over 16-year jail sentence
Related: Shell MGO bunker heist: Ex-Intertek Surveyor sentenced to four months’ jail for corruption
Related: Shell MGO bunker heist: Ex-Intertek Surveyor pleads guilty to corruption charge
Related: Shell MGO bunker heist: Shell Process Technician receives 195-month jail sentence
Related: Shell MGO bunker heist: Police seize property, cars, watches from ex-Shell Bukom Process Technician
Related: Shell MGO bunker heist: Ex-Shell blending specialist jailed over USD 956,000 worth of misappropriated gasoil
Related: Shell MGO bunker heist: Former Intertek, Inspectorate surveyors receive fines, jail sentences
Related: Shell MGO bunker heist: Ex-CCIC Singapore surveyor pleads guilty to misconduct, receiving USD 12k in bribes
Related: Shell MGO bunker heist: Ex-Process Technician receives 184-month prison sentence over illicit involvement
Related: Shell MGO bunker heist: Syndicate member’s nephew jailed over concealment of safe containing valuables
Related: Shell MGO bunker heist: 12 former surveyors from Intertek, Inspectorate, CCIC, SGS charged for corruption
Related: Shell MGO bunker heist: Former Shore Loading Officer receives 29-year jail sentence over total 85 charges
Related: Shell MGO bunker heist: Ex-Process Technician received minimum SGD 735,000 in benefits, faces 43 charges
Related: Shell MGO bunker heist: Ex-Shell employee admits leading role in illicit operation
Related: Shell MGO bunker heist: Sentek ex-Director faces 40 fresh charges
Related: Shell MGO bunker heist: Two former Shell employees jailed over theft
Related: Shell MGO bunker heist: High Court affirms ‘Prime South’ forfeiture to Singapore State
Related: Shell MGO bunker heist: Three ex-Shell employees charged with bribing surveyors
Related: Shell MGO bunker heist: Second ex-Shell employee pleads guilty to nine charges
Related: Shell MGO bunker heist: First ex-Shell employee to plead guilty over involvement
Related: Shell MGO bunker heist: Director of Singapore bunkering firm released from police custody
Related: Shell MGO bunker heist: Oil tanker ‘Prime South’ forfeited by State Courts of Singapore
Related: Shell MGO bunker heist: Director of Singapore bunkering firm face charge at State Courts
Related: Shell Singapore oil heist: Third offender pleads guilty for gas oil theft
Related: Captain of “Prime South” jailed in Shell Pulau Bukom gas oil theft
Related: Shell Singapore oil heist: Ex-Chief Officer of Prime South jailed
Related: Singapore: Shell MGO bunker heist amount balloons to USD$142 million
Related: Shell MGO bunker heist update: Fresh charges issued at Singapore court
Related: Shell Singapore oil heist: More charges issued at court
Related: Shell Singapore oil heist: Breakdown of stolen oil cargoes
Related: Intertek Singapore employee among Shell oil heist suspects

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 8 July 2025

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Vessel Arrest

Malaysia: MMEA detains tanker transporting 62,000 litres of diesel off Port Klang

Vessel was operated by a 43-year-old Indonesia captain with a crew of six Indonesians; captain failed to present any documents permitting the transport of the diesel which is a controlled item.

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Malaysia: MMEA detains tanker carrying 62,000 litres of diesel off Port Klang

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on Friday (4 July) said it detained a tanker carrying 62,000 litres of diesel without valid documentation off Port Klang on 3 July. 

Selangor MMEA director Maritime Captain Abdul Muhaimin Muhammad Salleh said the tanker was detained at about one nautical mile west of Tanjung Harapan at 1.30pm during a routine patrol in Selangor waters. 

Initial checks showed the tanker was operated by a 43-year-old Indonesia captain with a crew of six, aged between 21 and 51, who were also Indonesians. All of them had complete identification documents. 

However, the captain failed to present any documents permitting the transport of the diesel cargo which is a controlled item. 

With that, a detention order was issued for the tanker. Both the captain and second engineer were arrested and were brought to the marine police jetty in Pulau Indah for further investigation. 

The case will be investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 for failure to provide a permit or special licences from the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry to possess, store or transport controlled goods.  

 

Photo credit: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
Published: 7 July, 2025

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