The Police have arrested 15 men, aged between 26 and 56 years old, for their suspected involvement in an illegal transaction of Marine Gas Oil (MGO).
According to data provided by Singapore’s Police, on 1st March 2024, officers from the Police Coast Guard arrested eight crew members of a Singapore-registered tugboat and another seven crew members of a foreign-registered tugboat for their suspected involvement in illegal transaction of MGO at the sea off Tuas, Singapore.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the crew members of the Singapore- registered tugboat were believed to have misappropriated the MGO without their company’s knowledge by selling it to the crew members of a foreign-registered tugboat. The tugboat and cash amounting to $8,200 were seized as case exhibits.
The eight crew members of the Singapore-registered tugboat will be charged in court with criminal breach of trust by employees and the seven crew members of the foreign-registered tugboat will be charged in court with dishonestly receiving stolen property on 2nd March 2024. If convicted for criminal breach of trust by employees under Section 408 of the Penal Code 1871, they shall be punished with an imprisonment term, which may extend to 15 years and shall be liable to a fine. If convicted for dishonestly receiving stolen property under Section 411 (1) of the Penal Code 1871, they shall be punished with an imprisonment term that may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both.
The Police takes a serious view of illegal transaction of MGO in Singapore waters. The authorities will continue to conduct enforcement and security checks to prevent, deter and detect such illicit activities in Singapore waters.
