Legal

BP Singapore bunker trial: Last minute evidence surfaces at State Courts

CPIB investigators found three Trust Deeds allegedly linking Pacific Prime Trading Director to United Maritime, Sino International Shipping and Sino Tanker.

Published

7 years ago

November 1, 2019

Admin

The BP Singapore bunker trial continued on Wednesday (30 October) at the State Courts of Singapore where fresh evidence against Koh Seng Lee, the Director of Pacific Prime Trading (PPT), allegedly linking him to three shipping firms were presented.

The evidence presented by Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Loh Hui-Min were Trust Deeds to a 50% shareholding of United Maritime Pte Ltd, Sino International Shipping Limited, and Sino Tanker Pte Ltd between Poh Fu Teck, Director of the three shipping firms, and Koh.

The legal documents were uncovered during a Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) search at Koh’s residence on 24 March 2016 where over 70 boxes of documents were uncovered, said the DPP.

The Trust Deeds for United Maritime and Sino International Shipping were both signed on 12 January 2006; a similar deed for Sino Tanker was signed on 18 September 2006.

Koh told the court the Trust Deeds were indeed signed by himself but stated the documents were, “not in effect anymore”.

“The documents are still there but however it is only the paper in existence but the actual effect of the documents is not there anymore,” he said.

Koh explained to the court he initially signed the documents first as Poh asked him to join the companies upon hearing of Koh’s intention to build up his own fleet.

However, Koh later changed his mind and decided not to invest in a 50% shareholding of the three companies due to it being “too troublesome” due to administrative matters.

“If I joined I will have to send the money over to the company; because I did not use my money to join the company therefore this matter [regarding the Trust Deeds] no longer exist,” he said.

Koh said there was no discussion between him and Poh on the amount to be paid for 50% shareholding of the three companies.

He also mentioned telling Poh to dispose of the Trust Deeds at an earlier date and said he was “surprised” to learn of their existence in court.

DPP Loh, in short, did not agree with Koh’s claims.

“Mr Koh I quote to you, you always have a 50% share in these three companies United Maritime Pte Ltd, Sino International Shipping Limited, Sino Tankers Pte Ltd,” she stated.

“I put to you, you are lying about your financial interest in these companies.

“I put to you, you are deliberately suppressing the full extent of your business dealing in Singapore.”

Koh disagreed with all of DPP Loh’s allegations.

PPT previously chartered among the following bunker tankers Friendship, Fellowship, Flagship, Knight, Judge, Envoy, Armada, Luminous, and Radiance to transport marine fuel for BP Singapore.

Records from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) show Sino Tankers as the registered owner of Radiance in 6 August 2008; Luminous from 12 January 2009 to 23 August 2010; Judge from 21 December 2007 to 18 September 2013; Knight from 21 Dec 2007 to 21 August 2013; and a former owner of Envoy.

PPT was formerly a sole supplier of marine fuel for BP Singapore. Koh is facing 20 charges; he is alleged to have offered bribes amounting to US$3.95 million to former BP Singapore Regional Marine Manager Clarence Chang over 19 occasions for advancing the business interests of PPT with BP.

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

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 1 November, 2019

Legal

Singapore withdraws remaining 127 charges against Hin Leong founder OK Lim

Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges on 17 July.

Published

10 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

Founder of collapsed oil trader Hin Leong Trading, Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, has had the remaining 127 charges against him withdrawn, according to The Straits Times on Monday (20 July).

OK Lim was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges, including those for cheating, on 17 July. The discharge means Lim cannot be prosecuted again for the same offences.

Lim, 84, is currently serving a 13½-year prison sentence after the High Court reduced his original 17½-year jail term in March 2026. He was convicted in 2024 on two cheating charges and one count of abetting forgery in a case prosecutors described as one of Singapore’s most serious trade finance frauds.

Lim was convicted in May 2024 of two charges of cheating the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and one count of abetting forgery that proceeded to trial out of a total of 130 criminal charges.

He was first charged in court on 14 August 2020, and was subsequently handed further charges in court on 25 September 2020, 30 April 2021 and 24 June 2021 for his role in perpetuating fraud on various financial institutions.

A total of 130 charges were eventually brought against him for cheating and forgery-related offences.

Photo credit: Sora Shimazaki
Published: 21 July, 2026

Winding up

Singapore: Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd to be wound up voluntarily

Coastal Logistics was reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

Published

10 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

Several resolutions for Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd were made during an extraordinary general meeting held on 14 July, according to a notice in the Government Gazette on Friday (4 July).

The following resolutions were duly passed during the meeting:

As Special Resolution

That it has been proved to the satisfaction of the meeting that the Company cannot by reason of its liabilities continue its business and accordingly the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 160(1)(b) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (No. 40 of 2018);

As Ordinary Resolutions

that Mr. Wong Pheng Cheong Martin and Ms. Koay May Yee, both care of FTI Consulting (Singapore) Pte Ltd, One Raffles Quay, #27-10 South Tower, Singapore 048583 be appointed as the joint and several Liquidators of the Company for the purpose of such winding up; and
that the Liquidators be at liberty to open, maintain and operate any bank account(s) or account(s) for monies received by them as Liquidators with such bank(s) as they deem fit; and
that a Committee of Inspection will not be formed.

Manifold Times previously reported Nicholas James Gronow, director of Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping and Coastal Logistics, filed statutory declarations for both companies stating the firms cannot continue their businesses due to liabilities.

Both companies were reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

In 2019, several vessels owned by both firms entered the sale & purchase (S&P) market in Singapore.

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 21 July, 2026

Winding up

Singapore: Liquidator of Nan Shan Maritime Pte Ltd issues notice of dividend

Third interim dividend to admitted unsecured claims of Nan Shan Maritime is payable from 15 July, according to Government Gazette notice.

Published

5 days ago

July 16, 2026

Admin

A notice of dividend for Nan Shan Maritime Pte Ltd, which is currently in creditors’ voluntary liquidation, was published on the Government Gazette on Wednesday (15 July).

The following are the details of the notice:

Name of Company : Nan Shan Maritime (Pte.) Ltd.(In Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation)
Unique Entity No. / Registration No. : 201701967H
Address of Registered Office : 10 Anson Road, #10-10, International Plaza, Singapore 079903
Amount per centum : 5.00 Per Centum of all admitted unsecured, claims
First and Final or Otherwise : Third Interim
When Payable : 15 July 2026
Where Payable : Entitlements will be made by way of cheque.

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 16 July, 2026