Two men, three companies charged over alleged illegal gasoil export to North Korea
Wong Pei Ting
TWO men and three companies related to them were charged in court on Thursday (Dec 21) for allegedly shipping gasoil to North Korea, in contravention of United Nations sanctions against the hermit country.
Kwek Kee Seng and Justin Low Eng Yeow were hauled to court as the police found that Kwek had allegedly conspired with five other individuals based overseas to supply some 12,260 tonnes of gasoil to North Korea between September and November in 2019.
The supply was made using an oil tanker called MT Courageous via ship-to-ship transfers on six occasions and at North Korea’s Nampo Port on the last occasion, the investigations by the Commercial Affairs Department revealed.
Kwek was thus charged with seven counts under United Nations regulations.
The companies were charged as Kwek and Low, who is his accomplice, had allegedly used their bank accounts to receive or make payments in relation to the offences.
Kwek is the majority shareholder and director of one of the companies. The police said Kwek had allegedly falsified documents belonging to this company on two occasions, leading to additional falsification of accounts charges.
He was also served money laundering charges since he had used one of the companies to receive payment on five occasions.
Kwek was also slapped with charges in connection with obstructing the course of justice.
The police said he allegedly lied to the investigation officer and disposed of a phone which contained evidence pertaining to his involvement in the prohibited supply of gasoil to North Korea.
He also allegedly failed to inform the police about the prohibited supply of gasoil to North Korea by another vessel, MT Viet Tin 01, in February 2019.
If convicted, the men could be jailed up to 10 years, fined, or both for each United Nations Act charge. If found guilty of obstructing justice, Kwek could be jailed up to seven years, fined, or both.
For falsifying accounts and acquiring benefits from criminal conduct, Kwek could face up to 10 years in jail, a fine or both on each charge.
The companies could be fined up to S$1 million if convicted of each United Nations Act or money laundering charge.
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