Connect with us

Legal

Magnets on MFMs: “Consort Justice” crew pleads ‘not guilty’ to tampering charge

“It was my mistake but I was instructed by my boss to place the magnet. About the risk, I am not aware. I did not receive any money from him,” said suspect.

Admin

Published

on

5d53c2c444024 1565770436

A hearing at the State Courts of Singapore was held on Wednesday (14 August) over the alleged tampering of a mass flowmeter (MFM) by a crew of the Singapore-flagged bunker tanker formerly known as Consort Justice (IMO 9199701).

Nurharyadi was being charged under Section 5(1) Computer Misuse and Cybersecurity Act (Cap 50A, Rev Ed 2007) r/w Section 10(1) Computer Misuse and Cybersecurity Act (Cap 50A, Rev Ed 2007) but did not plead guilty.

“[The] prosecution’s allegation is you attached a magnet to the MFM while vessel was delivering marine fuel oil and purpose of the magnet was to interfere such that you could not accurately report the bunker fuel that was being transferred,” said District Judge Jasvender Kaur.

In reply, Nurharyadi claimed he was simply obeying instructions issued by his boss and was genuinely unaware of the reason for attaching the magnet.

“Your honour, I was not aware. If I do not do, I will be dropped from the job. I really do not know, I was not aware of the consequences as I am just the subordinate crew,” he told the court via an Indonesian translator.

“It was my mistake but I was instructed by my boss to place the magnet. About the risk, I am not aware. I did not receive any money from him. I do not know about siphoning oil. I just comply with instruction. I do not want to be dropped from the job.”

Following, Judge Kaur said she understood that Nurharyadi alleged he did not know the purpose of attaching the magnet to the MFM while the meter was in operation.

The Judge, who also knew a co-accused to be claiming trial, proceeded to arrange for an independent counsel to further advice Nurharyadi.

Nurharyadi in June earlier pleaded guilty to a similar charge.

The Consort Justice was chartered by Singapore bunker supplier Inter-Pacific Petroleum at the time of Nurharyadi ‘s arrest; the vessel has since been renamed as Fragrance.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has temporarily suspended Inter-Pacific’s bunker craft operator licence since 27 June 2019, until further notice.

RelatedBunker Cargo officer, crew face charges over alleged MFM tampering
Related: IPP responds to temporary suspension of bunker craft operator licence
RelatedMPA temporarily suspends IPP bunker craft operator licence

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 14 August, 2019

 

Continue Reading

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.

Admin

Published

on

By

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

Continue Reading

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.

Admin

Published

on

By

resized supreme court

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

Continue Reading

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.

Admin

Published

on

By

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

Continue Reading

Trending