Singapore police investigate Hin Leong’s downfall

Sam Chambers April 21, 2020

14 Less than a minute

The Singapore Police Force has opened an investigation into the decline and fall of Hin Leong Trading, a huge oil trader, which owes 23 banks a total of $3.85bn and has admitted covering up losses of $800m over a number of years.

Hin Leong and its shipping arm Ocean Tankers have sought court protection in Singapore while its bunkering division has stopped selling fuel to many clients in what is the biggest corporate collapse in the Southeast Asian republic for years.

Speculation is growing in Singapore that Hin Leong, founded in 1963 by Chinese tycoon OK Lim, could be rescued by Chinese energy major, Sinopec.

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.