Asia/Pacific News
Four Charged in Singapore Bunker Fraud Case
Four people have been arrested in Singapore after authorities acted on information pertaining to illegal bunkering activities in the country earlier this year, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has said.
The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) and the MPA found that the vessel MT Ivory deliberately delivered a shortfall of fuel to the MT Front Splendor, which documentation indicated should have received bunkers totalling 2,662.389 metric tonnes (mt).
The authorities said Jason Choo Soo Beng, cargo officer with Sea Hub Energy Pte Ltd, paid MT Front Splendour chief engineer Antonov Sergey $8,400 to accept the short delivery of marine fuel, and both Sergey and Choo paid Victor Loh Tuck Seng, an independent surveyor for M/s Saybolt Sinagpore Pte Ltd, a total of $5,900 to provide false verification.
Finally, according to the investigation, Choo paid $200 to Lam Tat Fei, a boatman who delivered $18,000 to pay for the extra fuel resulting from the shortfall.
The suspects, who were scheduled to be charged Wednesday, will face various charges involving giving and accepting bribes, falsifying information and using false documents, and engaging in conspiracy.
The Singapore authorities said they take corruption in the industry seriously and will not hesitate to take action against the parties being charged.
