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Director of Yuk Tung Energy under 15-week jail sentence, due to obstruction of justice over DPRK related offences

Disposal of evidence has resulted in Singapore not being able to provide full details to the United Nationals Panel of Experts which sought information regarding the case, says Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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The Director of Singapore-based oil trading and bunkering firm Yuk Tung Energy Pte Ltd (YTE) on Tuesday (7 June) received a 15-week jail sentence from a Judge at the State Courts of Singapore.

Manfred Low Cheng Jing pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice charges related to an illegal ship-to-ship (STS) gasoil transaction between the YTE-owned MT Yuk Tung and DPRK-registered Rye Song Gang 1 which took place around 20 January 2018.

After finding out local and international media, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, releasing details of the transaction, Manfred travelled to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 25 January 2018, according to court documents obtained by Manifold Times.

Meanwhile back in Singapore, another Director of YTE removed all physical documents relating to his company and relocated a computer used for day-to-day accounting purposes from the office. The computer was eventually disposed at an unknown dumpster in Singapore.

These actions prevented a full investigation by Singapore’s Commercial Affair Department (CAD) into the offence as the unit was unable to retrieve other relevant information and documents pertaining to YTE’s business transactions from the computer after a raid on 2 February 2018.

Further, during investigations, Manfred initially lied to CAD that his mobile phone and laptop were destroyed in January 2018 after a car ran over his bag containing the items. Subsequently, he admitted the mobile phone that contained information relevant to CAD’s investigations into YTE’s operations was disposed.

The above developments resulted in the Singapore Government not being able to provide full details to the United Nationals Panel of Experts which sought information regarding the case.

As a result, it has negatively impacted Singapore’s international reputation and commitment to upholding Singapore’s international obligations under relevant UNSC resolutions, says an Impact Statement written by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

(a) The offence frustrated the Singapore authorities’ ability to complete its investigations into the potential violation of the longstanding sanctions against the DPRK as required under international law especially during a period when the DPRK conducted several missile tests which threatened international and regional security;

(b) The offence subjected Singapore to international scrutiny and criticism, and raised questions from our international partners about Singapore’s commitment to upholding our legal obligations under the relevant UNSCRS as required under international law;

(c) The offence casted a negative light on Singapore’s reputation as a clean, trusted, and law-abiding jurisdiction for legitimate commercial activity; and

(d) The offence increased risks for broader Singapore financial and economic sectors following designation of a Singapore-registered entity YTE in the UN Sanctions List which impacts on how other Singapore companies are perceived in the global market.

On 30 March 2018, MT Yuk Tung and YTE were added to the UN Sanctions List where they became “designated persons” subject to sanctions under the DPRK Regulations as well as the Monetary Authority of Singapore (Sanctions and Freezing of Assets of Persons – Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) Regulations 2016.

Related: UN Security Council: 22 shipping firms, 27 vessels blacklisted
Related: Singapore oil trading, bunkering firm added to US sanctions list

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 8 June, 2022

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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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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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