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Singapore: Investigations uncover USD 3.6 million worth of bunker short deliveries by Vermont UM Bunkering

Senior Cargo Officer gained SGD 48,800 worth of commission from “buyback” bunker transactions and illegally obtained SGD 410,712.257 by cheating Vermont, a Singapore court heard on Thursday (21 July).

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Investigations by local authorities have uncovered staff of former Singapore bunker supplier Vermont UM Bunkering Pte Ltd (Vermont) short delivering USD 3.6 million (exact: USD 3,645, 976.34) worth of marine fuel to 14 clients* over 52 occasions between 4 January 2014 and 2 March 2016.

The development involved Poh Fu Teck (Director), Koh Seng Lee (Director), Lee Kok Leong (Bunker Manager), Lee Peck Yong (Cargo Officer), Loh Cheok San (Senior Cargo Officer) and two absconded staff namely Yang San Hua (Director) and Xing Tao (Financial Controller).

Loh Cheok San (Mr Loh) was at the State Courts of Singapore on Thursday (21 July) when he pleaded guilty to two counts of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code read with Section 109 of the Penal Code (Cap 224, 2008 Rev Ed).

He gained SGD 48,800 worth of commission from “buyback” bunker transactions and illegally obtained SGD 410,712.257 by cheating Vermont, according to court documents obtained by Manifold Times.

“Buyback” Bunker Transactions

Mr Loh receive about SGD 10 per metric tonne (pmt) of marine fuel oil as commission for participating in “buyback” transactions which would be split 50-50 between him and any cargo office involved in the transaction.

He is estimated to have earned a commission of at least SGD 43,600 from the “buyback” transactions he participated in – calculated from multiplying SGD 5 pmt by the 8,720 metric tonnes of under-delivered marine fuel oil.

Extra Commission Cheated from Vermont

Further, Mr Loh said he was instructed by Lee Kok Leong to over-declare “buyback” figures to Vermont in order to gain extra money for sharing with his peers. This resulted in him earning an estimated extra commission of SGD 5,200 from Vermont.

Cheating Vermont

Investigations also uncovered Vermont being cheated of at least USD 979,750 in total by Mr Loh, Lee Kok Leong, and Gerald Lee.

The difference between what was declared to Vermont and the amount actually paid to the Chief Engineer of the vessel would be split equally between the three individuals after paying the cargo assistant, usually SGD 5 pmt.

It is estimated Loh’s share of the difference was about USD 314,960.95 (SGD 410,712.257).

Mr Loh, who has not made any restitution of his illegal gains to date, has been scheduled to face sentencing in October 2022.

*Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times has chosen to withhold the names of these 14 clients

Related: Directors of Vermont granted leave to pursue legal suits against Goldsland and Sin Hua
Related: Vermont UM Bunkering makes winding up application at Singapore High Court
Related: Vermont UM Bunkering Directors plan to defend claims from Hong Kong firms
Related: Goldsland Holdings moves in to secure US $22 million from Vermont UM Bunkering
Related: Bank seeks $38 million from arrested Singapore bunker tankers
Related: Singapore: Four bunker tankers arrested
Related: Singapore-based Vermont UM Bunkering directors, staff charged for fraud

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 25 July, 2022

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Winding up

Singapore: Creditors’ meeting scheduled for Quetzal Offshore Pte Ltd

Meeting for Quetzal Offshore will be held through electronic means on 27 May at 3pm to confirm the appointment of liquidators, according to Government Gazette notice.

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The creditors’ meeting of Quetzal Offshore Pte Ltd Pte Ltd, has been scheduled to take place on 27 May, states a Monday (19 May) notice posted on the Government Gazette. 

The meeting for creditors of the company will be held by way of electronic means at 3pm. 

The purposes of the meeting are:

  • receiving a statement of the Company’s affairs together with a list of creditors and the estimated amounts of their claims;
  • confirming the appointment of Mr. Chan Kwong Shing, Adrian, Ms. Toh Ai Ling and Ms. Tan Yen Chiaw all care of KPMG Services Pte. Ltd. of 12 Marina View, #15-01 Asia Square Tower 2, Singapore 018961, as the joint and several Liquidators of the Company pursuant to Section 167(1) of the Act for the purpose of winding up the affairs of the Company at such remuneration based on time costs;
  • resolving 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;
  • forming a Committee of Inspection of not more than 5 members, if thought fit; 
  • and any other business

According to SGP Business website, a business platform for businesses and individuals, the company’s main business was offering ship management services. 

 

Photo credit: Benjamin-child
Published: 21 May, 2025

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Sanctions

UK cracks down on Russian shadow fleet with fresh sanctions

Latest sanctions target 18 more ships in the ‘shadow fleet’ carrying Russians oil; John Michael Ormerod, a British national, also faced sanction for procuring ships for Russia’s shadow fleet.

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The UK on Tuesday (20 May) announced a raft of 100 sanctions targeting Russian military, energy, financial sectors and those conducting Putin’s information war against Ukraine.

The latest sanctions target 18 more ships in the ‘shadow fleet’ carrying Russians oil, along with the fleet’s enablers. The Prime Minister announced 110 shadow fleet related sanctions ahead of his visit to Kyiv earlier this month.  

John Michael Ormerod, a British national, also faced sanction for procuring ships for Russia’s shadow fleet. Two Russian captains of shadow fleet tankers were also named in the list of individuals who were sanctioned. 

“This action imposes a personal cost on those who are supporting Russia’s trade in oil and is another step in the Foreign Secretary’s personal mission to constrain the Kremlin and a crucial part of the Plan for Change to ensure a secure Britain,” the government said in a statement. 

The UK is also working with partners to tighten the Oil Price Cap that limits the price that Russia can charge for its oil if transported using G7 services like insurance and shipping. 

“We are reviewing the $60 crude price level, with a view to lowering the cap closer to the cost of production and hitting Putin where it hurts by striking at his oil revenues,” it added.

The following is the list of sanctioned 18 ships:

  • TORONTO (IMO 8808525)  
  • NEXT (IMO 9286023) 
  • SPRING FORTUNE (IMO 9386536)  
  • RAGNAR (IMO 9384095)  
  • FURIA (IMO 9257802) 
  • CORTEX (IMO 9291250)  
  • CETUS (IMO 9418482)  
  • MISSONI (IMO 9296810) 
  • OTLA (IMO 9299719)  
  • MAIN (IMO 9387255) 
  • NAUTILUS (IMO 9434890) 
  • ARABELA (IMO 9253313)  
  • RICCA (IMO 9292577)  
  • TEAM (IMO 9292589) 
  • LEOPARD (IMO 9284594) 
  • PIERRE (IMO 9266877) 
  • JAMES II (IMO 9253909) 
  • LIETO (9389679) 

 

Photo credit: balesstudio on Unsplash
Published: 21 May, 2025

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Business

Indonesia seeks cooperation of Singapore traders in USD 12 billion Pertamina probe

Oil traders received notices, requesting them to assist the office of Indonesia’s Attorney General by providing answers on overall governance and past transactions, reports Bloomberg.

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Singapore-based trading companies have been reached out by Indonesia authorities to seek their cooperation in a USD 12 billion (SGD 15.5 billion) corruption investigation involving state-owned oil giant PT Pertamina, reports Bloomberg.

According to several people who received or saw the invitation, who wished to remain anonymous, the oil traders received notices earlier this month, requesting them to assist the office of Indonesia’s Attorney General by providing answers on overall governance and past transactions. 

The missive, sent from a Pertamina email address, detailed that the interviews would be conducted at Singapore’s Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), without confirming dates. 

The Attorney General office reportedly confirmed several Singapore-based companies had been summoned, but said no interviews have been conducted yet. 

In February, it was reported that Indonesia’s Attorney General’s Office arrested three executives at units of state-owned oil and gas giant Pertamina in connection with a IDR 193.7 trillion (USD 12 billion) crude oil corruption scandal.

Since then, Indonesia’s local media has reported more executives including Nicke Widyawati, the company’s former chief executive, have been questioned by the office of Attorney General. 

According to the Bloomberg report, Indonesia is dependent on energy imports, and Singapore-based companies are regular participants in Pertamina’s tenders for the purchase of petrol and crude oil. 

Recently, there have been reports of Indonesia planning to cut fuel imports from Singapore and is eyeing supplies from the US and the Middle East instead. 

Indonesia’s Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia stated that Indonesia could shift as much as 60% of its total fuel imports from Singapore to the United States in the early stages. He was quoted as saying Indonesia aimed to progressively reduce imports from Singapore to zero “some day”.

 

Photo credit: Pertamina
Published: 20 May, 2025

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