Singapore: Details have emerged of officers from the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) conducting a joint operation involving a bunker barge, MT Ivory.
Subsequent 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.
The four accused persons are Antonov Sergey employed by V Ships, as the Chief Engineer of the vessel MT Front Splendour; Jason Choo Soo Beng, Cargo Officer with Sea Hub Energy, assigned to the bunker barge MT Ivory; Lam Tat Fei, a boatman also under the employment of Sea Hub Energy; and Victor Loh Tuck Seng, a bunker surveyor working for Saybolt Singapore.
Investigations revealed that Antonov, the Chief Engineer had received a payment of US$8,400 from Choo, the Cargo Officer to accept the short delivery of marine fuel. Antonov then gave a sum of US$400 to Loh, the independent surveyor, to provide false verification. Loh further received US$5,500 from Cho for the deal.
All four accused persons will be charged in court today.
“With the present high bunker prices, there is a high temptation for opportunistic individuals to take advantage of the chances to reap large profits and pay-offs,” MPA said in a release. [15/05/13]
