SINGAPORE: Goh Jin Hian, the director of the now-insolvent marine fuel supplying company Inter-Pacific Petroleum ( IPP ), has been found to be responsible for losses totaling US$ 146 million ( US$ 196 million ).  ,
Justice Aedit Abdullah, who is the son of former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, ruled in favor of the IPP in brief remarks obtained by CNA on Tuesday ( Feb 6 ). The group had filed a lawsuit against the defendant for violating his director’s duty.
Goh, 55, was accused by IPP of failing to look into particular issues that would have made him aware that the business was being defrauded.
Goh asserted in his defense that there was no violation, no loss, and that the Companies Act provided him with relief from liability.
Justice Abdullah stated in his succinct remarks made on January 24 in advance of a whole view that has not yet been made public that Goh had an obligation to serve as the company’s director.
He stated that the duty is to keep an eye on the corporation’s interests. For the safety of the business, its owners, and its collectors, this entails, among other things, at least broad-level oversight of corporate officers ‘ activities.
According to the prosecutor, the evidence demonstrated that Goh actively participated in business management, took on responsibilities, and gathered knowledge and information.
While Justice Abdullah stated that a director need not be aware of all specifics, the data indicated that Goh was ignorant of IPP’s cargo dealing operations, which made up an important part of the company ‘ operations.
According to the judge, there were three “red banners” that ought to have prompted Goh’s investigation into the financial situation of the business. The business owed the organization about US$ 132 million, its bunker license was suspended, endangering its profitability, and Maybank owes a sizable sum of money totaling roughly US$ 15.6 million during the suspension of the license.
” The accused should have been motivated to look farther, learn more about the company’s real state of affairs, and keep an eye on what was happening within it because the financial situation of the business was suspect.” That was his responsibility as a producer, according to Justice Abdullah.
He claimed that dealings and drawdowns that resulted in losses for the business would not have been carried out if Goh had performed his duties.
The prosecutor rejected Goh’s argument that there was sufficient evidence within the organization to determine whether additional investigation was necessary or not.
He claimed that” an honest and fairly diligent director would include persisted and probed more.”
Goh also claimed that the banks had violated their obligations to the business, but the judge deemed this to be” speculative” and not a part of his responsibility.
The judge determined that Goh was not eligible for pleasure under the Companies Act because it states that the judge must determine the defendant acted “honestly and moderately.”
Justice Abdullah stated that “at the very least, the circumstances prevented the realization that the accused had acted reasonably.”
He acknowledged the whole extent of the company’s costs, including the breach from February 7, 2018, the total amount of drawdowns from June to July 2019, for a full of US$ 146, 047, 099.60, and the related interest claimed.
For additional instructions, such as proposals on costs, a deeper hearing will be scheduled.
Goh is involved in a legal situation before the courts in addition to this civil lawsuit.  ,
In his capacity as original CEO of New Silkroutes Group, he was accused of engaging in misleading trading last September.
Goh stated that he was not guilty at his most recent pre-trial conference on February2. His following pre-trial meeting is scheduled for March.