Business

Shell MGO bunker heist: Former Shore Loading Officer receives 29-year jail sentence over total 85 charges

Juandi bin Pungot spent SGD 3.4 million of his criminal benefits on amongst others, cars, luxury watches, and properties, according to documents seen by Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times.

Published

3 years ago

April 1, 2022

Admin

Former Shore Loading Officer receives 29 year jail sentence over total 85 charges

The former Shore Loading Officer of the Shell Pulau Bukom manufacturing site received a 29-year jail sentence at the State Courts of the Republic of Singapore on Thursday (31 March) over charges relating to the misappropriation of marine gas oil (MGO).

Juandi bin Pungot faced a total 85 charges for criminal breach of trust (40 charges), money-laundering (32 charges), and corruptly giving gratifications to various surveyors (13 charges), according to court documents seen by Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times.

Juandi, who pleaded guilty to several of these charges in February 2022, was first employed by Shell Eastern Petroleum Pte Ltd on 1 June 2004 as a Process Technician and later rose to hold the position of Shore Loading Officer.

Unknown to his employers, he also became one of the masterminds of a long-term and large-scale conspiracy to misappropriate gasoil from the Shell Pulau Bukom manufacturing site as early as 2007.

Together with other Shell employees who were his colleagues in “Team D”, Juandi secretly siphoned off about SGD 128 million in gasoil for sale on the black market between mid-2014 and 2018, earning at least SGD 5.63 million for himself.

During the offending period, Juandi spent SGD 3.4 million (exact: SGD 3,417,201.32) of his criminal benefits on amongst others, cars, luxury watches, and properties; some items were:

Deputy Public Prosecutors noted the offences committed by Juandi and his co-conspirators were exceptionally difficult to detect due to the systematic steps taken by the syndicate to conceal their crimes as they were able to cover their tracks effectively due to their collective in-depth knowledge of Shell’s systems.

These methods included configuring the flow of misappropriated gasoil through carefully planned routes that avoided custody transfer meters, while ensuring multiple pumps and tanks were moving at the same time to mask the misappropriation of gasoil.

They also included hiding misappropriation from a tank by shifting production into the same tank, and timing the incidents of misappropriation carefully such as by pausing a legitimate loading of purchased gasoil in order to transfer misappropriated gasoil.

The syndicate also took active steps to evade detection including manipulation of the control panel to mask the movement of misappropriated gasoil, and tampering with the bunker meter to disrupt the meter’s ability to register any readings when gasoil was passed through.

This included distracting supervisors and tampering with the orientation of CCTV cameras, and coordinating their criminal activities through group chats that they would subsequently delete.

Between 2014 to 2017, Juandi also issued a total of USD 188,000 and SGD 20,000 in bribes to at least 13 independent surveyors who were engaged to inspect tanks on board various vessels receiving gasoil at Shell Pulau Bukom.

“The sheer scale of the offending in this case is without precedent. It strikes at the core of a strategic industry for Singapore, and must be met with a resounding deterrent sentence,” concluded a Deputy Public Prosecutor.

“Juandi and his co-conspirators misappropriated immense amounts of gasoil from Shell Pulau Bukom over a protracted period. Their offences required painstaking investigation and immense resources to uncover.

“The staggering losses have not been made good. Indeed, there is little hope that any of the offenders will be able to make any meaningful restitution.”

Juandi is expected to begin serving his jail sentence on 6 May.

Note: Court proceedings against other allegedly involved parties, including former employees of Shell Pulau Bukom, are ongoing. A list of earlier developments recorded by Manifold Times are as follows:

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 1 April, 2022

Business

Singapore: Ang Wee Keong from IMDA appointed as new MPA Chief Executive

Ang will relinquish his IMDA appointment as Assistant Chief Executive (International) of the Info-Communications and will officially take over from Teo Eng Dih from 16 June.

Published

1 hour ago

April 30, 2025

Admin

Singapore: Ang Wee Keong from IMDA appointed as new MPA Chief Executive

Singapore’s Ministry of Transport on Tuesday (29 April) said Mr Ang Wee Keong, currently the Assistant Chief Executive (International) of the Info-Communications Media Development Authority (IMDA), will concurrently be appointed as Chief Executive (Designate) of the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) from 1 May to 15 June 2025.

He will relinquish his IMDA appointment and be appointed Chief Executive of MPA from 16 June 2025. He will succeed Mr Teo Eng Dih, who will be appointed Deputy Secretary (Special Duties) at the Ministry of Transport with effect from 16 June.

Mr Teo will remain as a member of the MPA Board until he steps down as CE MPA. Mr Ang will be appointed as a board member with effect from 16 June 2025.

“The Ministry of Transport thanks Mr Teo Eng Dih for his leadership and contributions as Chief Executive of MPA, and welcomes Mr Ang Wee Keong,” the ministry added.

Mr Teo Eng Dih (张英智)

As the Chief Executive of the MPA, Mr Teo made significant contributions to grow Singapore’s International Maritime Centre and the PIER71TM startup ecosystem. During his tenure, the Port of Singapore attained new records in vessel arrivals, container throughput, bunker sales and registrations under the Singapore Registry of Ships. MPA was also recognised as one of the key global regulators by Lloyd’s List. These milestones were reached amidst a complex global operating environment marked by geopolitical uncertainties, supply chain disruptions and technological shifts affecting the flow of goods and supplies worldwide.

Mr Ang Wee Keong (洪伟强)

As the Assistant Chief Executive (International) of IMDA, Mr Ang made significant contributions in advancing Singapore’s digital interests and thought leadership in the international arena. He strengthened Singapore’s network of digital economy partnerships, and expanded collaboration through platforms like the ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting, Forum of Small States and Asia Tech x Singapore (ATxSG). He also oversaw the formulation of forward-thinking policies and regulations in digital technology and services to advance the growth of Singapore’s digital economy, including the upcoming Digital Infrastructure Act to enhance the resilience and security of systemically important digital infrastructure.

Photo credit: Singapore Polytechnic
Published: 30 April, 2025

Technology

TFG Marine to launch of ZeroNorth e-BDNs at Port of Sohar after Singapore success

Kenneth Dam announced the successful trial and imminent roll-out of ZeroNorth’s electronic bunker delivery note solution for its customers in the Port of Sohar, in Oman.

Published

1 hour ago

April 30, 2025

Admin

TFG Marine to launch ZeroNorth e-BDNs at Port of Sohar after success in Singapore

Global marine fuel supply and procurement firm TFG Marine on Tuesday (29 April) announced the company’s successful trial and imminent roll-out of ZeroNorth’s electronic bunker delivery note (e-BDN) solution for its customers in the Port of Sohar, in Oman.

A first for the Middle East region following the successful deployment of the same technology earlier this year by TFG Marine at the Port of Singapore. The eBDN trial in Oman was completed in collaboration with ZeroNorth and SGTraDex, using the Singapore standards as a benchmark.

Kenneth Dam, Global Head of Bunkering, said: "We’re excited to partner with ZeroNorth, Fratelli Cosulich Group Bunkers, SGTraDex and SOHAR Port and Freezone to shortly introduce e-BDNs to our customers here in Oman.”

“This technology, that we have already successfully introduced in Singapore is yet another step in modernising our industry. It will streamline the bunker delivery process, cut administrative burdens, enhance digital documentation and help build a smarter, more connected bunkering sector.”

“We remain committed to establishing e-BDNs as a global standard for bunker fuel delivery and will continue to work closely with port authorities to advocate for and deploy this technology across our operations.”

Dam made the announcement at the Oman Maritime, Ports and Energy Forum, during the panel discussion on The Transformative Power of Data: The Evolving Role of Digitalisation in Shipping and Bunkering.

Dam added the fully digital solution — accessible through TFG Marine’s mobile app and integrated with SGTraDex’s digital infrastructure, — will enable the inclusion of additional data, such as mass flow meter readings during fuel deliveries.

“By integrating this technology, we will drive significant improvements in efficiency, accuracy, compliance, and sustainability across our operations, complementing the global mass flow meter rollout across our fleet and reinforcing TFG Marine’s position at the forefront of the modern bunkering industry,” he said.

Manifold Times previously reported TFG Marine announcing the introduction of ZeroNorth’s e-BDNs for its customers in Singapore during 23rd Singapore International Bunkering Conference (SIBCON) by the end of 2024.

In November last year, TFG Marine announced its first digitalised marine fuel delivery in Singapore using electronic bunker delivery notes (e-BDNs).

Its team supplied VLSFO bunker fuel to Pacific Basin Shipping Limited’s Illovo River bulk carrier, marking the first of four bunkering deliveries that month where this new technology was successfully deployed.

Photo credit: TFG Marine
Published: 30 April, 2025

Biofuel

Hercules Tanker Management vessel “Mount Kibo” takes on B30 bio bunker fuel

HTM said its tanker was successfully supplied with B30 bunkers by tanker “Hercules Sky”, another HTM-owned vessel and operated by Peninsula, marking the first biofuel supply to the HTM fleet.

Published

1 hour ago

April 30, 2025

Admin

Hercules Tanker Management vessel “Mount Kibo” takes on B30 bio bunker fuel

Hercules Tanker Management (HTM) on Tuesday (29 April) announced that its tanker Mount Kibo has been successfully supplied with B30 bunkers by tanker Hercules Sky, another HTM-owned vessel which is operated by Peninsula.

The operation marked the first biofuel supply to the HTM fleet.

HTM is the shipping venture launched last September by John A. Bassadone, founder and CEO of independent marine fuel supplier Peninsula.

HTM said the operation carried out in the Strait of Gibraltar aligns with the recent discussions at MEPC 83, where key decisions were made to advance maritime decarbonisation, including new fuel standards and a global pricing mechanism for emissions.

“Additionally, this initiative supports the objectives of the FuelEU Maritime Regulation, which promotes the use of renewable, low-carbon fuels and clean energy technologies for ships,” it said.

“By utilising biofuels, we are contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and supporting the industry's transition towards cleaner energy solutions.”

Photo credit: Hercules Tanker Management
Published: 30 April, 2025