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Singapore: Fake oil and bunker trader cheats woman SGD 93,000, sentenced to jail

Victim lodged a police report on 29 May 2023 and authorities arrested Muhammad Sharul Bin Anoor on 8 November 2023; to date, Sharul has repaid SGD 67 to the victim.

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A 30-year-old former deliveryman posing as an oil and bunker trader received a 19-month jail sentence at the State Court of Singapore on Friday (12 July) after pleading guilty to seven cheating charges.

Sometime in 2022, Muhammad Sharul Bin Anoor (Sharul) created a fake profile with the name “Melcolm Tan” and met the 34-year-old victim in late August 2022 on an online dating website; they initially communicated over Telegram, showed documents obtained from the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).

Falsely representing himself as an oil and bunker trader by occupation, “Melcolm” on 26 August 2022 told the victim she could invest in his shipping imports and make guaranteed returns of 3.5% by January 2023.

“Melcolm” told the victim that he would bear any losses, and that she would get her monies back. The victim transferred SGD 5,000 to “Melcolm” via Paynow through his mobile number on the same day but noticed the Paynow number was registered to Sharul after the first transfer.

Following, the victim messaged Sharul through WhatsApp using his Paynow number, but to maintain the deception Sharul lied that he was “Shan” who was an employee of “Melcolm” and would act as an intermediary between the victim and “Melcolm” going forward.

The victim believed Sharul and continued corresponding with “Shan”. Between August 2022 and March 2023, the victim was dishonestly induced to transfer a total of SGD 92,510 to Sharul. She used SGD 50,000 from her own personal savings and took out loans for the remaining amounts.

Sharul dissipated the monies on his renovation, car and credit card repayments. Details of several transactions are below:

Date Amount transferred to Sharul Fales representations by “Shan”
2 September 2022 SGD 8,000 Claimed “Melcolm” lost his credit card and needed funds to pay for his hotel expenses in Indonesia and his return flight to Singapore.
15 September 2022 SGD 6,000 Claimed “Melcolm” wanted to transfer the funds to “Shan”, and asked the victim to transfer the monies on his behalf.
11 October 2022 SGD 20,000 Claimed “Melcolm” needed the funds to close a deal as his friends had cheated him of $340,000.
16 November 2022 SGD 10,000 Claimed “Melcolm” needed the funds to pay customs duties to avoid being arrested.
19 December 2022 SGD 9,500 Claimed “Melcolm” needed the funds to pay his fines so that his lawyer could secure the release of his assets.
22 December 2022 SGD 7,000 Claimed “Melcolm” needed to transfer the funds to “Shan” to help with “Shan”s loans.

From March 2023, the victim attempted to meet “Melcolm” and “Shan” on various occasions to discuss the repayment of the monies, but Sharul repeatedly failed to turn up for these meetings.

Growing suspicious, the victim lodged a police report on 29 May 2023; Sharul was eventually traced and arrested on 8 November 2023.  To date, Sharul has repaid SGD 67 to the victim.

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 16 July 2024

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Winding up

Singapore: Notices of intended dividend issued for Xihe Holdings subsidiaries

Creditors of the companies will have to submit proof of debt to the liquidators of Xin Chun Shipping, Xin Guang Shipping and Xin Sheng Shipping by 18 February at 5pm by email.

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Notices to declare intended dividend of Xihe Holdings Pte Ltd subsidiaries Xin Chun Shipping Pte Ltd, Xin Guang Shipping Pte Ltd and Xin Sheng Shipping Pte Ltd to their creditors have been posted on the Government Gazette on Tuesday (4 February).

According to the notices, the last day for creditors of the companies to submit proof of debt to the liquidators is at 5pm on 18 February by email to [email protected].

The following are the details of the liquidators:

Paresh Tribhovan Jotangia and Ho May Kee
c/o Grant Thornton Singapore Private Limited
8 Marina View
#40-04/05 Asia Square Tower 1
Singapore 018960

Related: JMs: First creditors meeting of Xihe Holdings subsidiaries to be held in January 2021

 

Photo credit: Benjamin-Child
Published: 5 February, 2025

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Legal

Shell MGO bunker heist: Man sentenced to jail for hindering police investigations

Wong Wai Seng was reportedly sentenced to two months’ jail for lying to police on the whereabouts of three bunker clerks involved in the heist and relaying instructions for them to stay out of Singapore.

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A man, who was an operations executive with Singapore-based Sentek Marine & Trading (Sentek), was sentenced to two months’ jail on Friday (31 January), according to CNA.

Wong Wai Seng lied to police about the whereabouts of three bunker clerks involved in the Shell Pulau Bukom fuel heist. 

Wong pleaded guilty to one charge of perverting the course of justice while four charges of abetting corruption by giving the bunker clerks bribes to remain outside of Singapore and avoid investigations were considered in sentencing. 

Manifold Times previously reported three bunker clerks, previously employed by Sentek, being charged in Court for offences under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act (CDSA) and the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA). 

They were Singaporeans Wong Kuin Wah, Wong Wai Meng, and Boo Pu Wen.

It was alleged that Wai Meng, Kuin Wah and Pu Wen intentionally aided Sentek in acquiring property which was another person’s benefits from criminal conduct, by assisting to receive on board their respective vessels, gasoil which had been dishonestly misappropriated from Shell Eastern Petroleum (Pte) Ltd’s facility (Shell Pulau Bukom). 

They were charged for offences under Section 47(3) of the CDSA, read with Section 109 of the Penal Code, and punishable under Section 47(6)(a) of the CDSA. 

CNA reported that Wai Seng relayed instructions from Sentek’s managing director Pai Keng Pheng to the bunker clerks including instructing them to leave Singapore in January 2018. This resulted in Wai Meng, who is Wai Seng’s brother, leaving for Medan.

Wong also told Boo and Wong Kuin Wah who were on board different Sentek vessels, to not return to shore. 

On Pai's instructions, Wong also told the bunker clerks to throw away their work phones, which contained messages relating to the fuel heist.

The trio remained in hiding at D'Merlion Hotel in Batam for almost three years until January 2021, when they returned to Singapore and were arrested.

Wong Wai Meng was sentenced to seven years, four months and two weeks’ jail for helping the company acquire more than 28,000 metric tonnes (mt) of the misappropriated fuel worth USD 13.58 million (SGD 18.26 million)

Meanwhile, Wong Kuin Wah was sentenced to seven years and six months’ jail on 18 November for his role in misappropriating more than 27,000 tonnes of gas oil worth around USD 12.8 million (SGD 17.2 million).

The third individual who was charged, Boo Pu Wen, reportedly passed away in July 2023 and had his charges abated following his death, meaning Boo’s court proceedings over his 19 charges at the time came to an end. 

Former Shell employees, who were key members of a group who dishonestly misappropriated fuel from Shell Pulau Bukom, were sentenced to jail in court earlier.

Earlier coverage of developments by Manifold Times regarding the Shell MGO bunker heist can be found below:

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: Sora Shimazaki
Published: 3 February, 2025

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Winding up

Singapore: Liquidators schedule first and final meeting for Maritime International Offshore

Meeting will be held at 10 Collyer Quay, #17-01 Ocean Financial Centre, Singapore 049315 on 25 February at 3pm (Singapore time), according to Government Gazette notice.

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The first and final meeting of Maritime International Offshore Pte Ltd, which is in liquidation, has been scheduled to take place on 25 February, according to the company’s liquidators on a notice posted on Friday (24 January) on the Government Gazette.

The meeting will be held at 10 Collyer Quay, #17-01 Ocean Financial Centre, Singapore 049315 at 3pm (Singapore time).

The agenda of the meeting is the following:

  1. a) To receive, from the Liquidators and/or their duly authorised representative(s), a brief update on matters attended to in the Company’s winding up;
  2. b) To approve the Liquidators’ fees and disbursements, amounting to SGD 20,740.00 (excluding GST) and SGD 899.88 (excluding GST), respectively; and
  3. c) Any other matters relevant to the Company’s winding up.

Forms of general and special proxies are available at the Liquidators’ office. Proxies to be used at the meeting must be lodged by no later than 4pm (Singapore time) on the 24 February 2025.

Manifold Times previously reported the High Court of Singapore issuing a winding up order to Maritime International Offshore. 

The winding up application was filed by India-registered IL&FS Energy Development Company Limited on 27 December 2023.

Related: High Court of Singapore issues winding up order to Maritime International Offshore
Related: Singapore: Maritime International Offshore winding up application to be heard on 19 January

 

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 28 January, 2025

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