Fifteen men, aged between 25 and 60, were arrested Friday over suspicions of involvement in an illegal transaction of marine gas oil (MGO) in Singapore.
According to data provided by Singapore’s Police, the coast guard (PCG) received information, on 4 May, that a foreign-flagged tugboat and a Singapore-flagged vessel were believed to be involved in an illegal sale of MGO at sea, off Sultan Shoal lighthouse.
Local media reported that eight crew members of the Singapore-flagged vessel have allegedly misappropriated 1,000 litres of MGO, without their company being aware, and sold them to seven men onboard the tugboat. However, the tug was seized for investigations.
A probe against six men was conducted Friday, while the other nine were charged in court on Saturday with “criminal breach of trust as a servant”. If found guilty, the men may encounter conviction of a 15-year imprisonment, plus fines.
