The Singapore Police Force has arrested 10 men, aged between 22 and 48, for their suspected involvement in an illegal marine gasoil (MGO) transaction, reports Central News Asia.
10 men arrested over illegal oil transaction
During a joint operation with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on (Thursday (4 August), officers from the Police Coast Guard (PCG) arrested six crew members of a Singapore-registered tugboat and another four crew members of a foreign-registered tugboat for their suspected involvement in an illegal transaction of MGO at the sea off Southern Tuas Basin, 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 Singapore Police Force said. ‘The tugboat and cash amounting to $8,000 were seized as case exhibits.’
15 years imprisonment
The six men, who are crew members of the Singapore-registered tugboat, were scheduled to be charged in court on Friday (5 August) with the offence of criminal breach of trust as servant – an offence which carries an imprisonment term which may extend to 15 years and a fine.
The other four men, who are crew members of the foreign-registered tugboat, were set to be charged in court on Friday with dishonestly receiving stolen property, which carries an imprisonment term that may extend to five years, or a fine, or both.
‘The PCG and MPA take a serious view of illegal transactions of MGO in Singapore waters,’ the Singapore Police Force said. ‘The authorities will continue to conduct enforcement and security checks to prevent, deter and detect such illicit activities in Singapore waters.’
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Source: Channel News Asia
