Asia/Pacific News
Three in Court Over Illegal Bunker Storage in Malaysia
Two directors of Malaysian bunker player Syarikat Zone Arctic Sdn Bhd (Zone Arctic) and a ship's captain have been in court in Johor Baru, Malaysia, on charges of illegally storing diesel, Malaysian news outlet The Star reports.
The company allegedly used the MT Sapphire to store 190,857 litres of subsidised diesel while it was in waters off Tanjung Piai in Pontian in August.
It is understood that one of the men implicated, company director Tew Sing Yaw, pled not guilty on behalf of Zone Arctic and the three men await trial on bail.
The company and two directors paid total sureties of RM170,000 ($51,000) to the court, while Indonesian captain Edward Lorwens paid RM100,000 ($30,000) and is confined to the ship after surrendering his passport.
Judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin set the case at Johor Baru's Sessions Court to continue on November 26.
This is the second such case heard by the Sessions Court in Johor Baru in two weeks after three directors and an employee of Harbour Talent Sdn Bhd were accused of illegally storing 163,460 litres, or RM3.7 million ($1.1 million) worth, of diesel.
Another Malaysian bunker player, Tumpuan Megah Development Sdn Bhd, recently expanded its business by beginning operations at Labuan Port hoping the move would lead to 150 percent growth.
