Four arrested for illegal bunkering activities
AsiaOne
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
SINGAPORE - Earlier this year, acting on information received of illegal bunkering activities, officers from the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) and the Maritime and Port Authority in Singapore (MPA) conducted a joint operation involving a bunker barge, MT Ivory.
Investigations revealed that during a bunkering operation, four people came together to ensure that MT Ivory delivered a shortfall of marine fuel to the vessel - MT Front Splendor.
The vessel had received less fuel than the amount of 2662.389 mt stated in the documents. The intent of this endeavour was to enable the buying back of the extra fuel for personal financial gain.
Investigations revealed that Jason Choo Soo Beng, Cargo Officer with Sea Hub Energy Pte Ltd, had paid Antonov Sergey, the Chief Engineer of the vessel MT Front Splendour, US$8,400 (S$10,401) for the latter to accept the short delivery of marine fuel.
Sergey then gave a sum of US$400 to Victor Loh Tuck Seng, an independent surveyor working for M/s Saybolt Singapore Pte Ltd, to provide false verification. Loh further received US$5,500 from Choo for the deal.
Choo then gave US$200 to his colleague Lam Tat Fei, a boatman who had obtained confirmation to proceed with the deal.
He was given the sum for delivering the amount of US$18,000 to pay for the extra fuel resulting from the shortfall.
To account for the extra fuel on board MT Ivory, Choo falsified a barge transfer advice and the stock movement logbook to indicate a bogus transfer of fuel from another vessel, MT Hai Soon X, to the MT Ivory.
Sergey will be charged with one count of accepting a bribe; one count of giving a bribe; and two counts of knowingly using false documents with the intent to deceive his employer.
Choo will be charged with three counts of giving bribes; and one count of knowingly using false documents to deceive M/s V Ships UK. In addition, he faces two charges of falsifying documents.
Lam will be charged with two counts of abetting by engaging in a conspiracy with Jason; and one count of corruptly accepting a bribe.
Loh will be charged with two counts of accepting a bribe from Jason and Antonov respectively. In addition, he will also face one count of knowingly using false documents with the intent to deceive M/s V Ships UK.
All four accused persons will be charged in Court on May 15.
CPIB and MPA said they take a serious view of any corrupt practices in the bunkering industry, and will not hesitate to take action against any parties involved.
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