A Danish Court has recently revealed that Bunker Holding, the marine fuels group, together with its CEO have been charged in relation to an investigation into alleged jet fuel trading in Syria that may have breached EU sanctions.
Namely, Dan-Bunkering, the group’s subsidiary was charged in the case, which centers on a cargo of jet fuel that may have ended up being used for Russian military operations in Syria in September.
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Last September, Dan-Bunkering was preliminarily charged with violating the EU’s Syria sanctions regime by the Danish State Prosecutor for Serious Economic and International Crime (SØIK). Two unnamed individuals as well as another company were also charged in relation to the case, but were subject to a naming ban that was recently lifted by Denmark’s Eastern High Court; what is more, they have also been preliminarily charged in relation to the case.
The Danish Broadcasting Corporation further reported that there is one more individual charged, yet still remains subject to a naming ban.
Investigations by authorities concern the company’s alleged actions in 29 trades which have been claimed to be connected to sanctions against Syria in 2015-2017.
The 29 trades in question represent a value of approximately 1 million dollars before tax, which represents 0.2% of the total turnover.
Dan-Bunkering handles around 20,000 trades/deliveries in approximately 40 countries annually.
In late 2018, the London P&I Club reminded operators that both the European Union and US are applying trade sanctions against Syria. These include prohibitions on the transport of crude oil and petroleum products from Syria, as well as restrictions on Syria’s oil and gas and electricity generating industries amongst a number of other measures.
EU sanctions against the Government of Syria have been effective since May 2011. The provisions most relevant to the shipping and marine insurance industries are:
- prohibitions on the sale, supply, transfer or export of listed luxury goods and certain dual-use items, chemicals and oil and petroleum products, including a ban against providing, directly or indirectly, financial assistance, insurance or reinsurance related to such activities,
- a prohibition on the transport of crude oil and petroleum products of Syrian origin,
- a prohibition on the provision of key equipment and technology for use in the oil and gas industry in Syria, or to be used in the construction or installation in Syria of new power plants for electricity production,
- a prohibition on the provision of insurance and reinsurance to the state of Syria or those acting on its behalf,
- a prohibition on the sale, supply, transfer or export of arms and related material of all types, and of equipment that could be used for internal repression,
- asset freezes on a number of individuals and entities and prohibitions on making funds or economic resources available (including the supply of goods) to designated persons held responsible for the violent repression of civilians.