Tugboat and $8,200 seized after crew allegedly sold stolen fuel to another crew, 15 men arrested

Fifteen men, aged between 26 and 56 years old, were arrested for their suspected involvement in an illegal transaction of marine gas oil on March 1, said the police.

Officers from the Police Coast Guard arrested eight crew members of a Singapore-registered tugboat and another seven crew members of a foreign-registered tugboat at sea off Tuas.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the crew members of the Singapore-registered tugboat were believed to have misappropriated the fuel without their company’s knowledge by selling it to the crew members of a foreign-registered tugboat.

The tugboat and cash amounting to $8,200 were seized as case exhibits.

The eight crew members of the Singapore-registered tugboat were charged in court with criminal breach of trust by employees and the seven crew members of the foreign-registered tugboat were charged with dishonestly receiving stolen property on March 2.

If convicted for criminal breach of trust by employees, they shall be punished with an imprisonment term, which may extend to 15 years and shall be liable to a fine.

If convicted for dishonestly receiving stolen property, they shall be punished with an imprisonment term that may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both.