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BP Singapore bunker trial: PPT Director loses appeal, to begin 80-month jail sentence

Court of Appeal’s decision on appeal is final and cannot be further appealed against, according to the government of Singapore.

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The Court of Appeal of the Republic of Singapore on Friday (15 March) upheld the previous ruling of an 80-month jail sentence for the Executive Director of marine fuel trading firm Pacific Prime Trading (PPT) despite a second round of appeal.

Koh Seng Lee (Mr Koh), who paid former BP Singapore manager Chang Peng Hong Clarence (Mr Chang) $5.88 million in bribes on 19 occasions between 2006 and 2010, is expected to begin his jail sentence on Wednesday (27 March).

Original sentence – State Courts

The State Courts of Singapore on May 2021 found Mr Koh and Mr Chang guilty of corruption and initially issued a 54-month jail sentence for both parties.

Further, Mr Chang was issued a penalty of SGD 6 million (exact: SGD 6,220,095) and faced an additional 28-month imprisonment term if he decides not to pay the penalty.

Both Mr Koh and Mr Chang decided to appeal the State Court’s decision by taking the case to the High Court.

First appeal attempt – High Court

The High Court on March 2023 increased the jail sentence for both appellants to an 80-month imprisonment term after a failed appeal attempt by Mr Koh and Mr Chang on the May 2021 decision.

“In relation to sentence, I dismissed the appellants’ appeals against their respective sentences,” stated Vincent Hoong, Judge of the High Court, in his judgement dated August 2023.

“I allowed the appeal by the Prosecution in respect of both sentences and set aside the sentences of 54 months’ imprisonment imposed by the District Judge for Koh and Chang.

“I imposed a sentence of 80 months’ imprisonment for each appellant. I further ordered that three penalty orders under s 13(1) of the PCA be imposed on Chang for the amounts of $1,796,090 $1,905,520, and $2,175,985, with a total in-default imprisonment term of 2129 days’ imprisonment.”

Second appeal attempt – Court of Appeal

Both Mr Koh and Mr Chang went to the Court of Appeal to contest the High Court’s August 2023 decision by stating the Prosecution breached its disclosure obligations under Muhammad bin Kadar and another v PP [2011] 3 SLR 1205 (Kadar), amongst other claims.

Submissions by Deputy Public Prosecutors in December 2023, as seen by bunkering publication Manifold Times, concluded: “The Kadar questions do not satisfy the requirements for leave to be granted. They do not arise from the case that was before the High Court, and they are not questions of law of public interest. Rather, they are attempts to circumnavigate the single tier of appeals of our criminal justice system. Leave should be refused, and costs should be awarded.”

The Court of Appeal’s decision on appeal is final and cannot be further appealed against, according to the government of Singapore.

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Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 27 March 2024

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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.

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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.

Related: Singapore: Hin Leong Founder OK Lim gets jail term slashed to 13.5 years

 

Photo credit: Sora Shimazaki
Published: 21 July, 2026

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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.

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RESIZED Drew Beamer

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.

Related: Singapore: Director declares Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping’s inability to continue business
Related: Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping in court over DBS Bank bunker tanker loan
Related: Singapore: Bunker tanker “Coastal Neptune” arrested
Related: Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping, Coastal Logistics tankers enter S&P market

 

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 21 July, 2026

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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.

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RESIZED Drew Beamer

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

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