Connect with us

Legal

BP Singapore bunker trial: Former Market Manager takes to stand as witness

Eric Hu confirms Koh’s claims of limited knowledge in English and explains how PPT managed to become BP Singapore’s largest counterparty.
Admin

Published

7 years ago

on

5cd37e0fcb0f0 1557364239

Manifold Times was present at the BP Singapore bunker trial on Tuesday (7 May). The following report represents a brief extract of the day’s trial:

The BP Singapore bunker trial continued on Tuesday (7 May) at the State Courts of Singapore with the cross examination of Eric Hu, the former Market Manager of BP Singapore Pte Ltd (2003 to 2010) and the ex-Key Account Manager of BP Taiwan (1996 to 2003) as witness.

Hu confirmed the claim of Koh Seng Lee, the sole shareholder and executive director of Pacific Prime Trading (PPT), of only being able to understand simple English when asked by Megan Chia, Partner at Tan Rajah & Cheah, acting for Koh.

“We communicated largely using either Mandarin or Hokkien in more than 99% of the time with very little English only limited to single words or [marine fuel] terminology,” he testified, while adding examples of “380” and “viscosity” as terms being used in English. 

According to Hu, Koh sometimes had to attend meetings involving BP colleagues from non-mandarin speaking countries. 

“Although he was involved in those meetings they were internal meetings among colleagues that will be speaking in English,” he said.

“We will let him speak when we need him to give further information. If he was not able to fully express himself, we will be able to help him. 

“There are not many times when we had such meetings with Mr Koh, but every time when we had such meetings we have to help him.”

Among other matters testified, Hu explained to the court how PPT managed to successfully compete against more than ten bunkering firms to become BP Singapore’s largest counterparty.

Hu estimated PPT and Vermont Singapore respectively taking between 40 to 50% and 30 to 40% of BP Singapore bunker sales volume in 2010, when he left BP Singapore.

“From my own personal view it was because PPT could fulfil a lot of the requirements set by BP; therefore, it rose from a small counterparty which had small share of the business to replace other counterparties with bigger share,” he said.

“And for its operations in the market it did not violate any of the BP requirements or criteria.”

Among BP’s criteria is the ability to purchase bunker fuel from BP’s ex-wharf operations for delivery through BP-vetted bunker tankers, a commitment to the development and growth of BP bunker sales quantity, and the safety and quality control of bunker oil, Hu further told the court.

“BP Marine has strict requirement for barges and we trust all counterparties to buy from us ex-wharf to use our barges […] for those who are unable to meet these requirements we will reduce business volumes for them,” he stated.

Related: BP Singapore bunker trial: Pacific Prime Trading Director cross examination continues
Related: BP Singapore bunker trial: Pacific Prime Trading Director undergoes cross examination
Related: BP Singapore bunker trial: Prosecution and Defence present submissions (Part 2)
Related: BP Singapore bunker trial: Prosecution and Defence present submissions (Part 1)
Related: BP Singapore bunker bribery case update: BP bunker trade data in question
Related: BP Singapore bunker bribery case update: CPIB officer takes to the stand
Related: UPDATE: BP Singapore bunker bribery case
Related: BP Singapore bunker bribery case continues

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 9 May, 2019
 

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Winding up

Singapore: Annual general meetings scheduled for Xihe Holdings subsidiaries

Annual general meetings of companies/creditors will be held electronically from between 21 July to 5 for 11 subsidiaries of Xihe Holdings.

Admin

Published

8 hours ago

on

July 7, 2026

By

Resized benjamin child

Several notices were published on the Government Gazette on Tuesday (26 May) regarding the annual general meetings of the companies and creditors to be held electronically from between 21 July to 5 August for 11 subsidiaries of Xihe Holdings. 

Annual general meetings for Xin Dun Shipping are to be held on 21 July at the following time:

  • For the company and creditors: 4pm

Annual general meetings for Xin Ya Shipping are to be held on 24 July at the following time:

  • For the company and creditors: 3pm

Annual general meetings for Xin Chun Shipping are to be held on 21 July at the following times:

  • For the company: 2pm
  • For the creditors: 3pm

Annual general meetings for Nan Sia Maritime are to be held on 24 July at the following time:

  • For the company and creditors: 2pm

Annual general meetings for Nan Hai Maritime are to be held on 23 July at the following time:

  • For the company and creditors: 3pm

Annual general meetings for Hua Xin Shipping are to be held on 4 August at the following time:

  • For the company and creditors: 3pm

Annual general meetings for Hua Kang Shipping are to be held on 23 July at the following time:

  • For the company and creditors: 2pm

Annual general meetings for Hua Gang Shipping are to be held on 4 August at the following time:

  • For the company and creditors: 2pm

Annual general meetings for Hua An Shipping are to be held on 22 July at the following time:

  • For the company and creditors: 4pm

Annual general meetings for Dong Fang Shipping are to be held on 22 July at the following times:

  • For the company: 2pm
  • For the creditors: 3pm

Annual general meeting for Nan Ya Maritime is to be held on 5 August at the following time:

  • For the company: 2pm

The agenda for all the meetings are:

  • To receive an update on the liquidation.
  • To receive an account of the Liquidators’ acts and dealings, and of the conduct of the winding up.

The following are the details of the liquidator: 

Ho May Kee
Liquidator
c/o 8 Marina View
#40-04/05 Asia Square Tower 1
Singapore 018960

 

Photo credit: Benjamin Child
Published: 7 July, 2026

Continue Reading

Winding up

Singapore: Nan Shan Maritime liquidator issues notice of intended dividend

Creditors will need to produce proofs of debt to liquidator of Nan Shan Maritime by 14 July, according to Government Gazette notice.
Admin

Published

6 days ago

on

July 1, 2026

By

steve pb from Pixabay

A notice to declare intended dividend of Nan Shan Maritime Pte Ltd to its creditors has been posted on the Government Gazette on Tuesday (30 June).

The following are the details of the notice of intended dividend:

Name of Company : Nan Shan Maritime (Pte.) Ltd. (In Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation)
Unique Entity No. / Registration No. : 201701967H
Address of Registered Office : 10 Anson Road, #10-10, International Plaza, Singapore 079903
Last Day for Receiving Proofs : 14 July 2026
Name of Liquidator : Tam Chee Chong
Address : c/o 10 Anson Road, #10-10, International Plaza, Singapore 079903

 

Photo credit: steve pb from Pixabay
Published: 1 July, 2026

Continue Reading

Winding up

Singapore: Kekal Shipping Pte Ltd to undergo voluntary wind up

A liquidator has been appointed at an extraordinary general meeting held on 18 June for the purpose of winding up the company’s affair, according to Government Gazette notice.
Admin

Published

1 week ago

on

June 30, 2026

By

RESIZED Jo_Johnston from Pixabay

A notice in the Government Gazette was published by the Director of Kekal Shipping Pte Ltd on Friday (26 June), regarding resolutions that were passed in relation to the winding up of the company.

The following resolutions were duly passed during an an Extraordinary General Meeting of the company, which was held at 1 Harbourfront Avenue, #14-07 Keppel Bay Tower, Singapore 098632 on 18 June at 10am:

SPECIAL RESOLUTION

RESOLVED that the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 160(1)(b) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018.

ORDINARY RESOLUTION

RESOLVED that Ms Lee Yan Huei of Messrs Acclime Corporate Advisory Singapore Pte. Ltd. be appointed liquidator of the Company for the purpose of such winding up

 

Photo credit: Jo_Johnston from Pixabay
Published: 30 June, 2026

Continue Reading

Trending