Legal

Singapore: Shell MGO bunker heist amount balloons to USD$142 million

Former Shell Eastern Petroleum employees allegedly stole 316,035 mt of MGO between August 2014 to January 2018, show court documents seen by Manifold Times.

Published

6 years ago

December 6, 2018

Admin

The Singapore State Court on Thursday (29 November) continued its hearing of the Shell MGO bunker heist case, from the last session on 18 May, 2018.

Prosecutors reorganised earlier charges and issued fresh counts against several suspects involved in an alleged case of stolen marine gas oil (MGO) from Shell Pulau Bukom refinery at Singapore, according to documents obtained by Manifold Times.

Earlier charges under section 411 with section 109 of the Penal Code against five former employees of Shell Eastern Petroleum, namely Cai Zhi Zhong, Juandi Bin Pungot, Koh Choon Wei, Muzaffar Ali Khan Bin Muhamad Akram, and Tiah Kok Hwee, underwent an amalgamation process to be reorganised into a per month basis.

Latest charges against the above five individuals indicate total misappropriation of 203,423.60 metric tonnes (mt) of MGO worth approximately $94.2 million (Exact: USD$94,204,265.98) from alleged illegal operations since August 2014; significantly up from $25.8 million earlier in May.

The counts under section 408 with section 109 of the Penal Code against three other ex-employees of Shell Eastern Petroleum, namely Abdul Latif Bin Ibrahim, Mohd Ibrahim S/O K Abdul Majid, and Richard Goh, underwent a similar amalgamation process to be reorganised into a per month basis.

The three above suspects allegedly misappropriated 112,611.8 mt of MGO worth about $46.6 million (Exact: $46,623,566.32) from suspected illegal MGO operations since June 2015.

In total, investigations uncovered the nine former employees of Shell Eastern Petroleum misappropriating about 316,035 mt of MGO worth approximately $140.8 million during the period between August 2014 to January 2018.

An additional 10 fresh charges were issued to Alan Tan Cheng Chuan and Ng Hock Teck under section 411 with section 109 of the Penal Code for dishonestly receiving stolen property transferred from Pulau Bukom to the vessel Sentek 26. The latest 10 charges related to alleged misappropriation of 7,122 mt of MGO worth about $3.3 million (Exact: USD$3,283,274.22).

Section 408 states:
Whoever, being a clerk or servant, or employed as a clerk or servant, and being in any manner entrusted in such capacity with property, or with any dominion over property, commits criminal breach of trust in respect of that property, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 15 years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Section 411 states:
Whoever dishonestly receives or retains any stolen property, knowing or having reason to believe the property to be stolen property, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 5 years, or with fine, or with both. A person convicted of an offence under this section shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 5 years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Section 109 of the Penal Code (Cap 224, 2008 Rev Ed) states:
Whoever abets any offence shall, if the act abetted is committed in consequence of the abetment, and no express provision is made by this Code for the punishment of such abetment, be punished with the punishment provided for the offence.

In detail, the updated charges to the following individuals are below:

Name	Charge no.	Quantity of MGO (MT)	Amount (USD)	Date
Cai Zhi Zhong Juandi Bin Pungot Koh Choon Wei Muzaffar Ali Khan Bin Muhamad Akram Tiah Kok Hwee Fomerly employed by Shell Eastern Petroleum	1	2,807.8	$1,691,057.59	1 to 7 Jan 2018
	2	8,481.5	$4,776,486.03	1 to 31 Dec 2017
	3	12,128.3	$6,583,138.88	1 to 30 Nov 2017
	4	8,595.1	$4,375,418.51	1 to 31 Oct 2017
	5	7,789.8	$3,960,317.64	1 to 30 Sep 2017
	6	9,531.2	$4,453,676.86	1 to 31 Aug 2017
	7	7,320.3	$3,337,872.49	1 to 31 Jul 2017
	8	10,004.0	$4,284,950.25	1 to 30 Jun 2017
	9	6,354.7	$2,887,786.51	1 to 31 May 2017
	10	9,746.6	$4,702,343.27	1 to 30 Apr 2017
	11	7,597.2	$3,561,757.92	1 to 31 Mar 2017
	12	7,086.9	$3,521,454.80	1 to 28 Feb 2017
	13	3,874.4	$1,876,541.73	1 to 31 Jan 2017
	14	1,575.8	$734,538.66	1 to 31 Dec 2016
	15	5,425.5	$2,301,861.14	1 to 30 Nov 2016
	16	4,645.5	$2,115,363.96	1 to 31 Oct 2016
	17	5,235.6	$2,118,911.72	1 to 30 Sep 2016
	18	3,243.8	$1,281,636.44	1 to 31 Aug 2016
	19	6,483.3	$2,616,562.80	1 to 31 Jul 2016
	20	7,638.5	$3,311,827.08	1 to 30 Jun 2016
	21	4,811.9	$1,965,025.18	1 to 31 May 2016
	22	7,797.1	$2,782,824.06	1 to 30 Apr 2016
	23	4,077.4	$1,373,382.38	1 to 31 Mar 2016
	24	5,515.0	$1,545,841.89	1 to 29 Feb 2016
	25	8,211.6	$2,174,952.51	1 to 31 Jan 2016
	26	6,093.9	$2,134,558.68	1 to 31 Dec 2015
	27	3,701.0	$1,595,347.93	1 to 30 Nov 2015
	28	2,557.7	$1,125,497.35	1 to 31 Oct 2015
	29	695.2	$306,117.32	1 to 30 Sep 2015
	30	1,794.2	$858,593.35	1 to 31 Jul 2015
	31	1,245.7	$688,833.33	1 to 30 Jun 2015
	32	612.4	$355,481.10	1 to 31 May 2015
	33	1,831.6	$985,319.98	1 to 30 April 2015
	34	4,020.8	$2,115,277.19	1 to 31 Mar 2015
	35	5,818.0	$3,067,602.90	1 to 28 Feb 2015
	36	1,720.9	$799,326.95	1 to 31 Jan 2015
	37	1,256.6	$721,650.65	1 to 31 Dec 2014
	38	571.9	$425,610.02	1 to 31 Oct 2014
	39	2,929.9	$2,438,132.93	1 to 30 Sep 2014
	40	2,595.0	$2,251,386.00	1 to 31 Aug 2014


Name	Charge no.	Quantity of MGO (MT)	Amount (USD)	Date
Abdul Latif Bin Ibrahim Mohd Ibrahim S/O K Abdul Majid Richard Goh Formerly employed by Shell Eastern Petroleum	1	1,359.20	$816,022.90	5 Jan 2018
	2	4,037.20	$2,256,673.68	1 to 31 Dec 2017
	3	5,240.40	$2,818,811.16	1 to 30 Nov 2017
	4	4,157.20	$2,102,659.21	1 to 31 Oct 2017
	5	5,191.70	$2,607,775.56	1 to 30 Sep 2017
	6	1,473	$681,056.28	1 to 31 Aug 2017
	7	3,733.50	$1,793,590.34	1 to 30 Apr 2017
	8	3,850.40	$1,795,903.57	1 to 31 Mar 2017
	9	3,403.30	$1,688,963.25	1 to 28 Feb 2017
	10	3,695.20	$1,784,818.55	1 to 31 Jan 2017
	11	3,724.50	$1,723,352.29	1 to 31 Dec 2016
	12	4,631.40	$1,959,012.90	1 to 30 Nov 2016
	13	5818.00	$2,639,510.66	1 to 31 Oct 2016
	14	5253.60	$2,121,303.45	1 to 30 Sep 2016
	15	2174.10	$858,982.17	1 to 31 Aug 2016
	16	5235.40	$2,106,666.17	1 to 31 Jul 2016
	17	4471.70	$1,936,431,53	1 to 30 Jun 2016
	18	5932.60	$2,416,934.72	1 to 31 May 2016
	19	3720.40	$1,323,666.88	1 to Apr 2016
	20	3828.00	$1,285,085.79	1 to 31 Mar 2016
	21	2779.80	$776,343,66	1 to 29 Feb 2016
	22	2736.00	$720,018.39	1 to 31 Jan 2016
	23	4281.60	$1,485,439.06	1 to 31 Dec 2015
	24	4646.10	$1,984,804.43	1 to 30 Nov 2015
	25	3101.00	$1,354,454.78	1 to 31 Oct 2015
	26	5628.40	$2,444,278.19	1 to 30 Sep 2015
	27	4299.10	$1,792,896.66	1 to 31 Aug 2015
	28	3427.70	$1,630,145.57	1 to 31 Jul 2015
	29	781.30	$430,739.71	1 to 30 Jun 2015


Name	Charge no.	Quantity of MGO (MT)	Amount (USD)	Date
Alan Tan Cheng Chuan Ng Hock Teck Dishonestly receive stolen property transferred from Pulau Bukom to the vessel Sentek 26	8	724.10	$308,379.71	14 Jun 2017
	9	768.60	$372,331.37	4 Jun 2017
	10	577.10	$276,730.99	9 Apr 2017
	11	694.70	$324,021.97	18 Mar 2017
	12	838.30	$390,999.89	8 Mar 2017
	13	768.80	$371,338.09	28 Jan 2017
	14	722.40	$348,926.42	20 Jan 2017
	15	598.70	$277,009.67	11 Dec 2016
	16	736.20	$333,682.65	17 Oct 2016
	17	693.10	$279,853.46	23 Sep 2016

Readers who need to refresh their memory can refer to the following links below:

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 6 December, 2018

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