Singapore Bunker Clerk Facilitates Acquisition of Misappropriated Gas Oil
In a shocking turn of events, a bunker clerk at a Singapore-based company, Sentek Marine & Trading, played a key role in helping the company acquire over 27,000 tonnes of misappropriated gas oil, amounting to a staggering US$12.82 million. The clerk, Wong Kuin Wah, committed these offenses over 45 occasions between August 2014 and January 2018.
Background of the Offenses
Sentek Marine & Trading was actively involved in the buying and selling of fuels, including gas oil, during the period when the offenses took place. Wong Kuin Wah, who was assigned to the bunkering vessel Sentek 26, used his position to facilitate the receipt of the misappropriated fuel, ultimately leading to significant financial gains for the company.
Gas oil, a refined form of crude oil, is commonly used as fuel and serves as an alternative to diesel in various countries. The misappropriated fuel was obtained from Shell Eastern Petroleum’s Pulau Bukom facility by a group of rogue Shell employees, who had been involved in a large-scale operation to steal gas oil.
Sentencing and Legal Proceedings
Wong Kuin Wah, a 61-year-old Singaporean, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of facilitating the receipt of misappropriated fuel. He was subsequently sentenced to seven years and six months in jail on November 18. Additionally, 16 other charges were taken into consideration during the sentencing process.
It is worth noting that Wong had 12 graft charges withdrawn, resulting in a discharge amounting to an acquittal. This legal maneuver ensures that he cannot be charged again for the same offenses in the future.
Collusion and Market Manipulation
Court documents revealed that the rogue Shell employees responsible for the misappropriation had sold the stolen gas oil to Sentek Marine & Trading. The company agreed to purchase the fuel at a price significantly below the prevailing market value, initially set at 60% and later increased to 62.5% of the estimated market value.
Wong Kuin Wah, along with another individual named Alan Tan Cheng Chuan, was assigned as bunker clerks to Sentek 26 in 2013. Their involvement in the scheme sheds light on the collusion between internal and external parties that contributed to the widespread misappropriation of gas oil.
Conclusion
The case of Wong Kuin Wah and the misappropriated gas oil highlights the complex web of corruption and illegal activities that can occur within the fuel industry. The sentencing of Wong serves as a reminder of the serious consequences associated with facilitating such criminal acts.
FAQs
What is gas oil?
Gas oil is a refined form of crude oil commonly used as fuel and an alternative to diesel in various countries.
What were the charges against Wong Kuin Wah?
Wong Kuin Wah pleaded guilty to 12 counts of facilitating the receipt of misappropriated gas oil and was sentenced to seven years and six months in jail.
How did the misappropriation scheme operate?
A group of rogue Shell employees secretly siphoned off more than 200,000 tonnes of gas oil from Shell Eastern Petroleum’s Pulau Bukom facility between August 2014 and January 2018. They then sold the stolen fuel to companies like Sentek Marine & Trading at below-market prices.