Arrests Made in Singapore Bunker Fraud

Twelve men in Singapore have been arrested in relation to an illegal sale of SGD 4000 ($3200) worth of marine gas oil (MGO).  The suspects are not Singaporean nationals, and were detained after an investigation allegedly found that seven members aboard the Indonesia-flagged tugboat Tanaga Maju had sold six metric tonnes of MGO to the Equatorial Guinea-flagged “TB Nerine”. Police also reportedly seized the “TB Nerine”, along with the SGD 2760 ($2200) found aboard.  The men are to be charged with abetment in criminal breach of trust and face up to 15 years in jail along with a possible fine. The transaction is believed to have happened at sea off the Pandan River at the end of last week.