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Dan-Bunkering trial: Court denies request sending case to European Court of Justice

‘The EU’s ban on supplies of jet fuel only applies if it has ended up with Syrians in Syria,’ argues Dan-Bunkering’s defence lawyer, Jacob Skude Rasmussen.
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Disclaimer: An online translation service was used in the production of the current editorial piece, which Manifold Times had reproduction permission from Danish Radio (DR).

The case against Dan-Bunkering was heard in trial at the court in Odense on Thursday (25 November), according to DR.

Dan-Bunkering, a parent company of Bunker Holding and top director Keld Demant, were accused of supplying jet fuel for use in Syria in violation of EU sanctions.

Defence lawyers representing the duo on Wednesday (24 November) argued the trial court should seek assistance from the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg due to its complications. 

However, the presiding judge rejected the defence’s request.

Presiding judge Jens Lind said “the court does not find it necessary to ask the European Court of Justice to interpret the legal basis and make a decision in the case.”

Thereafter, the court continued its hearing session with presiding judge Jens Lind and two judges.

Disagreement over who the sanctions actually apply to

Overall, Dan-Bunkering believes deliveries of jet fuel for which they are accused do not fall within the EU’s sanctions.

According to the indictments, the jet fuel ended up in Russian fighter jets in Syria via intermediaries.

The EU’s ban on supplies of jet fuel only applies if it has ended up with Syrians in Syria,” said Dan-Bunkering’s defender, Jacob Skude Rasmussen.

Russia sent fighter jets to Syria in September 2015 and began heavy bombardments in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. But in 2014, Russia was not mentioned in the EU ban against the supply of jet fuel for use in Syria, Dan-Bunkering’s defender explained in court.

Jacob Skude Rasmussen pointed out western countries such as Denmark and USA also sent fighter jets over Syria to bomb Islamist groups and no one in that connection has questioned where the jet fuel came from.

“The ban does not cover other countries’ use of jet fuel in Syria,” the defender concluded.

“It is very far-reaching if it is private companies that have to decide who is the good or the bad in Syria,” he adds.

Accusations: Russian forces are covered

Prosecutors, on the other hand, do not believe there is any doubt the EU ban includes the Russian forces that bombed in support of the Syrian regime.

“The ban is so broadly worded that others than Syrians must be covered,” said Senior Prosecutor Andreas Laursen in court

Article 7A of the EU Syria Regulation states: It is prohibited to sell, supply, transfer or export jet fuel and fuel additives, (…) directly or indirectly to persons, entities or bodies in Syria or for use in Syria.

The senior prosecutor pointed out that when Russia entered the war, it was on the side of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

“The purpose of the sanctions was to hit the Assad regime because the regime oppresses the population. Russia turned the war in Assad’s favor, we have heard expert witnesses explain. Thus, the purpose of the sanctions falls into place: to prevent the repression,” adds Andreas Laursen.

A question of chain responsibility

Defence lawyers argued, no matter who the ban included, Dan-Bunkering’s responsibility ended long before deliveries of jet fuel eventually reached Syria.

According to the indictment, from 2015 to 2017, the company supplied jet fuel to Russian ships that sailed it on to Syria – in some cases after the fuel had been transshipped to a new ship in the Mediterranean.

“Dan-Bunkering has only delivered jet fuel in European ports in Greece, Cyprus, Turkey and Malta,” said the company’s defender Jacob Skude Rasmussen on Wednesday.

EU’s sanctions make it forbidden to supply jet fuel both directly and indirectly to Syria.

“But we do not believe that the word ‘indirect’ means that there is a responsibility for what the next link in the chain does to the product,” the defender added.

Jacob Skude Rasmussen also believed, as a third point, Dan-Bunkering can only be judged by EU law if the company knew it was infringing the ban and not alone should have known.

Note: Earlier Manifold Times coverage regarding Bunker Holding/Dan-Bunkering’s alleged breaches of EU sanctions can be found below:

Related: Dan-Bunkering trial: Denmark also bombed Syria, confirms defence counsel
Related: Dan-Bunkering trial: Prosecutors question Bunker Holding CEO Keld Demant
Related: Dan-Bunkering trial: Prosecution examines revealing email to Group Directors
Related: Dan-Bunkering trial: Hearing resumes after accusation of impartiality
Related: Dan-Bunkering trial: Hearing temporarily suspended due to impartiality
Related: Prominent prosecutor to lead spectacular lawsuit against Dan-Bunkering
Related: Bunker Holding:  ‘No signs’ in alleged breach of EU sanctions post internal investigation
Related: Experts: Bunker Holding alleged jet fuel sale significant to outcome of Syrian War
Related: Bunker Holding ‘surprised’ at fuel sale charge; maintains ‘full confidence’ in Group CEO
Related: Danish prosecutor proposes jail sentence for Bunker Holding Group CEO over jet fuel sale
Related: Bunker Holding & Dan Bunkering allegedly charged over EU sanctions violations
Related: Dan Bunkering ‘surprised’ SØIK has pressed charges over alleged EU sanction violations
Related: Dan-Bunkering: Everything has been investigated – the case should be closed
Related: Name ban on parties involved with Dan-Bunkering Syrian jet fuel deal lifted
Related: Dan-Bunkering Middelfart office searched by commercial crimes police
Related: Firm linked to alleged Dan-Bunkering Syrian war activities under sanction
Related: Update: Dan-Bunkering Syria jet fuel supply ops allegedly longer than thought
Related: Dan-Bunkering faces preliminary charges by SOIK with violation of EU Syria sanctions
Related: Investigations on Dan-Bunkering over alleged Syrian jet fuel deal start
Related: Danske Bank casts doubts on Dan-Bunkering reason for Syria investigation
Related: Danske Bank reported Dan-Bunkering to police in EU sanctions case
Related: Bunker company acknowledges flawed statement in EU sanctions case
Related: Unioil Supply dragged into Dan-Bunkering sanctions allegations
Related: Dan-Bunkering has not violated EU’s sanctions against Syria, it insists
Related: Nordea highlights stance on compliance after Dan-Bunkering discovery
Related: Danish media alleges Dan-Bunkering jet fuel deliveries during Syria war

 

Photo credit: CC BY-SA 4.0 / Luxofluxo
Source: DR
Published: 29 November, 2021

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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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July 21, 2026

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RESIZED Sora Shimazaki on Pexels

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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July 21, 2026

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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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LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

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July 21, 2026

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PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. 

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post. 

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024. 

 

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026

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