Legal

Dan-Bunkering trial: Prosecution examines revealing email to Group Directors

Email showed a legal adviser within the group warning about the deal in question following an inquiry from the Danish Business Authority.

Published

5 years ago

November 8, 2021

Admin

Disclaimer: An online translation service was used in the production of the current editorial piece, which Manifold Times had reproduction permission from Danish Radio (DR).

The sixth day of the Dan-Bunkering trial, regarding alleged violations of EU Syria sanctions, took place on Thursday (4 November) at the High Court in Odense, according to DR.

Prosecutors asked two Directors of Dan-Bunkering and parent company Bunker Holding about a revealing email which showed a legal adviser within the group warning about the deal in question following an inquiry from the Danish Business Authority.

The Mail to Directors

On 23 December 2016, the Danish Business Authority approached Dan-Bunkering asking whether it had helped to supply jet fuel to Syria in violation of the EU’s sanctions.

The agency had received information about this from the United States the day before.

A month later, Dan-Bunkering wrote in a reply to the Danish Business Authority it had reviewed all its trades in jet fuel and that there was nothing to suggest that products have ended in Syria.

But an email which was presented in court showed Casper Dybdal, legal adviser at Bunker Holding, having a completely different assessment of whether Dan-Bunkering violated the sanctions.

The email dated 6 February 2017, sent to four directors of Dan-Bunkering and Bunker Holding when the former wanted to make another new trade in jet fuel with a Russian customer, had Casper Dybdal questioning: “But we have now been made aware that the product will most likely end up in Syria. What is your take on it?”

A Strange Wording

Dan-Bunkering Director, Claus Bulch Klausen, the former vice president of the company also received the email. He was questioned in court and explained that he had wondered about the email at the time.

“I thought it was a strange wording, as we had just looked through all the things and seen that it did not end in Syria. It must be at Casper Dybdal’s expense. That was not our view,” Claus Bulch Klausen explained.

Claus Bulch Klausen is not charged in the case, but was questioned as a representative of Dan-Bunkering.

The legal adviser, Casper Dybdal, also pointed out in the email from 2017 that the Danish Business Authority had written to Dan-Bunkering that they could see “it continue”, hence Dan-Bunkering followed the trades.

Casper Dybdal recommended that if the trades were to continue, a clear statement should be inserted in the agreements with the customer that the jet fuel was not for use in Syria.

Another Eight Deliveries

That recommendation was passed on from Dan-Bunkering’s current director, Claus Bulch Klausen, to Dan-Bunkering’s office in Russia, which was in charge of the jet fuel dealers where the local employees followed the trades.

According to the indictment, there were then eight more deliveries of jet fuel until May 2017.

Senior prosecutor Andreas Laursen pointed out in court that Dan-Bunkering had repeatedly supplied jet fuel to the Russian military at a time when Russia was conducting bombing raids in Syria and that Dan-Bunkering delivered fuel in ports in the Mediterranean, not far from Syria.

Andreas Laursen: Are you considering what the Russians will use the jet fuel for with the next trades?
Claus Bulch Klausen: No, there is nothing in our study that shows that they use it for something wrong, was the answer from.

Bunker Holding CFO, Michael Krabbe, who was also being questioned as an uncharged individual in court further explained Bunker Holding always had very strong focus on compliance sanctions.

“If there is one thing that means a lot to us, it is that we do not commit sanctions,” he said.

Up to the Court

Bunker Holding has already explained in a written hearing that the company in 2017 did not believe that Dan-Bunkering was involved in the transportation of jet fuel to Syria when enquired by the Danish Business Authority, according to CFO Michael Krabbe.

Andreas Laursen: Do you agree with Bunker Holding’s view at the time?
Michael Krabbe: Yes, as it looked then.
Andreas Laursen: And as it looks now?
Michael Krabbe: I will leave that to this court to decide

The trial is set to continue on Tuesday (9 November) where the CEO of Bunker Holding, Keld Demant, is to be questioned. The top director is accused of having participated in the eight deliveries of jet fuel that took place after Dan-Bunkering responded to the Danish Business Authority in early 2017.

The prosecution has planned that during the interrogation, audio clips from secret telephone tappings will be played as well.

The trial is expected to be decided before Christmas.

Note: Earlier Manifold Times coverage regarding Bunker Holding/Dan-Bunkering’s alleged breaches of EU sanctions can be found below:

Photo credit: Brett Jordan on Unsplash
Source: DR
Published: 8 November, 2021

Legal

Singapore withdraws remaining 127 charges against Hin Leong founder OK Lim

Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges on 17 July.

Published

17 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

Founder of collapsed oil trader Hin Leong Trading, Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, has had the remaining 127 charges against him withdrawn, according to The Straits Times on Monday (20 July).

OK Lim was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges, including those for cheating, on 17 July. The discharge means Lim cannot be prosecuted again for the same offences.

Lim, 84, is currently serving a 13½-year prison sentence after the High Court reduced his original 17½-year jail term in March 2026. He was convicted in 2024 on two cheating charges and one count of abetting forgery in a case prosecutors described as one of Singapore’s most serious trade finance frauds.

Lim was convicted in May 2024 of two charges of cheating the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and one count of abetting forgery that proceeded to trial out of a total of 130 criminal charges.

He was first charged in court on 14 August 2020, and was subsequently handed further charges in court on 25 September 2020, 30 April 2021 and 24 June 2021 for his role in perpetuating fraud on various financial institutions.

A total of 130 charges were eventually brought against him for cheating and forgery-related offences.

Photo credit: Sora Shimazaki
Published: 21 July, 2026

Winding up

Singapore: Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd to be wound up voluntarily

Coastal Logistics was reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

Published

17 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

Several resolutions for Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd were made during an extraordinary general meeting held on 14 July, according to a notice in the Government Gazette on Friday (4 July).

The following resolutions were duly passed during the meeting:

As Special Resolution

That it has been proved to the satisfaction of the meeting that the Company cannot by reason of its liabilities continue its business and accordingly the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 160(1)(b) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (No. 40 of 2018);

As Ordinary Resolutions

that Mr. Wong Pheng Cheong Martin and Ms. Koay May Yee, both care of FTI Consulting (Singapore) Pte Ltd, One Raffles Quay, #27-10 South Tower, Singapore 048583 be appointed as the joint and several Liquidators of the Company for the purpose of such winding up; and
that the Liquidators be at liberty to open, maintain and operate any bank account(s) or account(s) for monies received by them as Liquidators with such bank(s) as they deem fit; and
that a Committee of Inspection will not be formed.

Manifold Times previously reported Nicholas James Gronow, director of Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping and Coastal Logistics, filed statutory declarations for both companies stating the firms cannot continue their businesses due to liabilities.

Both companies were reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

In 2019, several vessels owned by both firms entered the sale & purchase (S&P) market in Singapore.

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 21 July, 2026

Winding up

Singapore: Liquidator of Nan Shan Maritime Pte Ltd issues notice of dividend

Third interim dividend to admitted unsecured claims of Nan Shan Maritime is payable from 15 July, according to Government Gazette notice.

Published

6 days ago

July 16, 2026

Admin

A notice of dividend for Nan Shan Maritime Pte Ltd, which is currently in creditors’ voluntary liquidation, was published on the Government Gazette on Wednesday (15 July).

The following are the details of the notice:

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
Amount per centum : 5.00 Per Centum of all admitted unsecured, claims
First and Final or Otherwise : Third Interim
When Payable : 15 July 2026
Where Payable : Entitlements will be made by way of cheque.

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 16 July, 2026