Legal

Former CEO of Singapore-listed New Silkroutes Group amongst three others facing 31 charges at court

Dr Goh Jin Hian was the ex-Director of former Singapore bunker supplier and bunker craft operator Inter-Pacific Petroleum; he faced a USD 156 million civil trial at the Singapore High Court in April 2023.

Published

1 year ago

September 21, 2023

Admin

Former Chief Executive Officer of Singapore-listed New Silkroutes Group Limited (NSG), Dr Goh Jin Hian, former Chief Corporate Officer, Oo Cheong Kwan Kelvyn, and former Finance Director, Teo Thiam Chuan William, were charged in court on Wednesday (20 September) with false trading offences under the Securities and Futures Act (SFA).

A fourth individual, Huang Yiwen, the sole director of GTC Group Pte Ltd (a commercial market maker engaged by NSG during the material time), was also charged with similar offences.

The four men were each charged with 31 counts of Section 197(1)(b) of the SFA read with Section 109 of the Penal Code for engaging in a conspiracy to create a misleading appearance with respect to the price of NSG securities.

They allegedly placed orders and executed trades in NSG securities for a purpose of pushing up the price of NSG securities on 31 trading days between 26 February 2018 and 27 August 2018. The alleged price manipulative orders and trades include share buy-backs conducted through NSG’s corporate trading account.

Dr Goh faces a further eight counts of Section 197(1)(b) of the SFA for allegedly placing orders and executing trades in NSG securities through his personal trading account for a purpose of pushing up the price of NSG securities on eight trading days between 31 August 2018 and 4 December 2018.

The charges above arose from a joint investigation carried out by the Commercial Affairs Department of the Singapore Police Force and the Monetary Authority of Singapore which started in September 2020.

If convicted of an offence under Section 197 of the SFA, offenders may be liable to an imprisonment term not exceeding seven years, or a fine not exceeding $250,000, or both.

Inter-Pacific Petroleum

Dr Goh, who was the ex-Director of former Singapore bunker supplier and bunker craft operator Inter-Pacific Petroleum (IPP), in April 2023 faced a USD 156 million civil trial initiated by IPP liquidator Deloitte & Touche over alleged breach of his director’s duties for IPP.

The Singapore branch of Maybank and Societe Generale (SocGen), both IPP’s largest creditors, are respectively looking to recover from exposure of an estimated USD 88.3 million and USD 81.3 million.

Reportedly, Dr Goh has said it was not the responsibility of the director to authenticate documents from management and he disputes against the banks’ own due diligence and credit risk assessments.

International Energy Group

NSG in late March 2019 announced subsidiary New Silkroutes Capital signing a share sale and purchase agreement with Hong Kong-based TK Energy Limited for the disposal of the entire shareholding interests in International Energy Group Pte. Ltd. (IEG) for US $10 million in cash.

Singapore-headquartered IEG, which trades mainly gas oil and fuel oil, sells its products to international counterparties including oil majors and national oil companies.

In January 2021, stakeholders of IEG decided the firm can no longer continue business due to its liabilities and proceeded to summon a creditors’ meeting.

A meeting to distribute intended dividend to IEG creditors was later held in March 2023.

A timeline organised list of events preceding the current development of Inter-Pacific Petroleum has been recorded by Manifold Times below:

A timeline organised list of events preceding events of International Energy Group is as follows:

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 21 September, 2023

Related Topics:Features Legal - Corruption Legal - Crime

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Bunker Fuel

MPA: Sentek Marine & Trading bunkering licenses to expire on 3 February

Sentek will cease to be licensed from 3 February 2025 at 4pm and must not continue to operate as a bunker supplier and bunker craft operator within the Singapore Port, says MPA.

Published

2 days ago

January 21, 2025

Admin

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Monday (20 January) said the bunker supplier and bunker craft operator licences of Sentek Marine & Trading Pte Ltd (Sentek) will expire at 4pm on 3 February 2025.

“From 3 February 2025, 4pm, Sentek Marine & Trading Pte Ltd will cease to be licensed and must not continue to operate as a bunker supplier and/or bunker craft operator within the Singapore Port,” MPA said in Port Marine Circular No 2 of 2025.

On 4 September 2024, MPA initially said it would not be renewing the bunkering licences of Sentek, which would expire on 17 September and the company would cease to be licensed on and from 18 September.

However, later, MPA announced it has extended the bunkering licences of Sentek for a limited amount of time, “pending the final disposal of the appeals” by the company.

In late August last year, Manifold Times reported the General Division of the High Court dismissing an application from Sentek to quash MPA’s refusal to renew its bunker supplier and bunker craft operator licenses.

At the time, a Sentek representative told Manifold Times it was planning to appeal the High Court decision.

MPA also reminded all bunker licensees, including bunker suppliers and bunker craft operators, to comply strictly with all the terms and conditions of the respective bunker licence(s).

“MPA will not hesitate to take firm action against any licensee that contravenes any of its bunker licence terms and conditions, including taking into account such contraventions in considering whether to renew the bunker licence(s), suspending or cancelling the bunker licence(s), and/or taking enforcement action against any such bunker licensee,” it said.

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 21 January, 2025

Winding up

Singapore: Sasa Shipping Co Pte Ltd to be wound up voluntarily

Creditors of the company are required on or before 18 February 2025 to send in their names and address with particulars to firm’s liquidator at 60 Paya Lebar Road, #04-51, Paya Lebar Square, Singapore 409051.

Published

3 days ago

January 20, 2025

Admin

Several resolutions for Sasa Shipping Co Pte Ltd were made during an extraordinary meeting held on 15 January, according to a notice in the Government Gazette on Friday (17 January).

The meeting was held at 28 Biopolis Road, Wilmar International, Singapore 138568 at 11am.

The duly passed resolutions were:

Special Resolution

That the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 160 (1)(b) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018.

Ordinary Resolutions

That Mr. Liew Khee Soon of 60 Paya Lebar Road, #04-51, Paya Lebar Square, Singapore 409051 be and is hereby appointed as Liquidator of the Company for the purpose of such winding-up.
That the Liquidator be indemnified by the Company against all costs, charges, losses, expenses and liabilities incurred or sustained by him in the execution and discharge of his duties in connection with the winding-up.

In another notice, it was stated that creditors of the company are required on or before 18 February 2025 to send in their names and address with particulars (if any) to the liquidator at 60 Paya Lebar Road, #04-51, Paya Lebar Square, Singapore 409051 and if so required by notice in writing from the said Liquidator, are to come in and prove their debts or claims at such time and place as shall be specified in the notice or in default will be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made before such debts or claims are proved.

Photo credit: Benjamin Child
Published: 20 January, 2025

Vessel Arrest

Tanker falsely flying Guyana flag detained by Venezuelan authorities

Chemical tanker “Four Plus” which was recently detained by Venezuelan authorities for unauthorised entry into State’s waters was falsely flying Guyana flag, says Maritime Administration Department of Guyana.

Published

3 days ago

January 20, 2025

Admin

Tanker falsely flying Guyana flag detained by Venezuelan authorities

The Maritime Administration Department of Guyana on Tuesday (14 January) said chemical tanker Four Plus, bearing IMO No. 9203930, which was recently detained by Venezuelan authorities for unauthorised entry into that State’s waters was falsely flying the Guyana flag.

The department said the vessel is not registered in Guyana; therefore, it is not authorised to fly the Guyana flag or claim Guyanese nationality.

“MARAD wishes to remind stakeholders and the public that it operates a closed Ships’ Registry and does not offer a flag of convenience,” it said in a social media post.

It added that recent media reports highlighted the sanctioning of five oil tankers linked to a Syrian conglomerate with ties to Iran and Venezuela by the United States Treasury Department. These vessels also bore false registration documents.

“The issues of fraudulently registered vessels and the operation of a global shadow fleet remain on the radar of the global maritime community,” it added.

“The IMO at the 112th Session of its Legal Committee, scheduled for March this year, is expected to further develop measures to prevent these unlawful practices.”

Photo credit: MarineTraffic / Peter Beentjes
Published: 20 January, 2025