SINGAPORE: Fifteen men were arrested on Friday (Mar 1) for their suspected involvement in an illegal transaction of marine gas oil.
Eight of them were crew members of a Singapore-registered tugboat while seven were crew members from a foreign-registered tugboat, said the police in a news release.
The suspected illegal transaction is believed to have taken place in the waters off Tuas.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the crew of the Singapore-registered tugboat were believed to have misappropriated the marine gas oil without their company’s knowledge by selling it to the other crew.
The tugboat and cash amounting to S$8,200 (US$6,090) were seized as case exhibits, said the police.
Members of both tugboat crews will be charged in court on Saturday.
If found guilty of criminal breach of trust, crew members from the Singapore-registered tugboat face up to 15 years’ jail and a fine.
Crew members of the foreign-registered tugboat will face a jail term of up to five years, a fine, or both punishments if found guilty of dishonestly receiving stolen property.
The police warned that it takes a serious view of illegal transactions of marine gas oil in Singapore waters.
“The authorities will continue to conduct enforcement and security checks to prevent, deter and detect such illicit activities in Singapore waters.”