Legal

Magnets on MFMs: “Consort Justice” crew pleads ‘not guilty’ to tampering charge

“It was my mistake but I was instructed by my boss to place the magnet. About the risk, I am not aware. I did not receive any money from him,” said suspect.

Published

7 years ago

August 14, 2019

Admin

A hearing at the State Courts of Singapore was held on Wednesday (14 August) over the alleged tampering of a mass flowmeter (MFM) by a crew of the Singapore-flagged bunker tanker formerly known as Consort Justice (IMO 9199701).

Nurharyadi was being charged under Section 5(1) Computer Misuse and Cybersecurity Act (Cap 50A, Rev Ed 2007) r/w Section 10(1) Computer Misuse and Cybersecurity Act (Cap 50A, Rev Ed 2007) but did not plead guilty.

“[The] prosecution’s allegation is you attached a magnet to the MFM while vessel was delivering marine fuel oil and purpose of the magnet was to interfere such that you could not accurately report the bunker fuel that was being transferred,” said District Judge Jasvender Kaur.

In reply, Nurharyadi claimed he was simply obeying instructions issued by his boss and was genuinely unaware of the reason for attaching the magnet.

“Your honour, I was not aware. If I do not do, I will be dropped from the job. I really do not know, I was not aware of the consequences as I am just the subordinate crew,” he told the court via an Indonesian translator.

“It was my mistake but I was instructed by my boss to place the magnet. About the risk, I am not aware. I did not receive any money from him. I do not know about siphoning oil. I just comply with instruction. I do not want to be dropped from the job.”

Following, Judge Kaur said she understood that Nurharyadi alleged he did not know the purpose of attaching the magnet to the MFM while the meter was in operation.

The Judge, who also knew a co-accused to be claiming trial, proceeded to arrange for an independent counsel to further advice Nurharyadi.

Nurharyadi in June earlier pleaded guilty to a similar charge.

The Consort Justice was chartered by Singapore bunker supplier Inter-Pacific Petroleum at the time of Nurharyadi ‘s arrest; the vessel has since been renamed as Fragrance.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has temporarily suspended Inter-Pacific’s bunker craft operator licence since 27 June 2019, until further notice.

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 14 August, 2019

Winding up

Singapore: Liquidators of East Marine Pte Ltd issues notice of annual meeting

Annual meeting of the company and its creditors will be held at 8 Wilkie Road, #03-08 Wilkie Edge, Singapore 228095 via audio-visual conference on 20 August at 11am.

Published

4 hours ago

August 12, 2026

Admin

A notice of annual meeting was issued by liquidators of East Marine Pte Ltd, which is in creditor’s voluntary liquidation, on the Government Gazette on Friday (7 August).

According to the notice, the annual meeting of the company and its creditors will be held at 8 Wilkie Road, #03-08 Wilkie Edge, Singapore 228095 via audio-visual conference on 20 August at 11am.

The purpose of the meeting is to have an account laid before the meeting showing the acts and dealings of the liquidators and the conduct of the winding up in the preceding year.

The following are the details of the liquidators:

Ng Kian Kiat
Yap Hui Li
Liquidators
c/o 8 Wilkie Road
#03-08 Wilkie Edge
Singapore 228095

Photo credit: steve pb from Pixabay
Published: 12 August, 2026

Winding up

Singapore: Annual and final meetings to be held for Asia-Pacific Shipyard Pte Ltd

Annual meeting and the final meeting of the company and its creditors will be held at 8 Wilkie Road, #03-08 Wilkie Edge, Singapore 228095 via audio-visual conference on 9 September.

Published

4 hours ago

August 12, 2026

Admin

A notice of annual meeting and final meeting was issued by liquidators of Asia-Pacific Shipyard Pte Ltd, which is in creditor’s voluntary liquidation, on the Government Gazette on Friday (7 August).

According to the notice, the annual meeting and the final meeting of the company and its creditors will be held at 8 Wilkie Road, #03-08 Wilkie Edge, Singapore 228095 via audio-visual conference on 9 September.

The annual meeting will be held at 2pm while the final meeting will be held at 3pm.

The purpose of the meeting is to have an account laid before the meeting showing the acts and dealings of the liquidators and the conduct of the winding up in the preceding year and the manner in which the winding up has been conducted and the property of the company has been disposed of and hearing any explanation that may be given by the liquidators.

The following are the details of the liquidators:

Ng Kian Kiat
Yap Hui Li
Liquidators
c/o 8 Wilkie Road
#03-08 Wilkie Edge
Singapore 228095

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 12 August, 2026

Sanctions

Reed Smith relocates sanctions partner Alex Brandt from London to Singapore

Brandt’s relocation to the city-state is a direct response to increased client demand for sanctions advice in Asia, says law firm.

Published

4 hours ago

August 12, 2026

Admin

Reed Smith relocates sanctions partner Alex Brandt from London to Singapore

Global law firm Reed Smith on Tuesday (11 August) announced the relocation of global shipping and sanctions partner Alex Brandt from London to Singapore.

Brandt advises insurers, owners, charterers, brokers, and traders on all aspects of sanctions-related challenges, providing analysis of applicable legislation, assistance with due diligence work, and training.

He has extensive experience of U.S. and UK government investigations, disclosures, and enforcement actions and has been centrally involved in many of the most high-profile designations, seizures, and enforcement actions brought against members of the international shipping community.

Brandt also has wide-ranging experience drafting protective language for transportation, trade and financing contracts, and has worked with major lenders and other organisations to develop best-in-class compliance programmes. He also has sat on a number of BIMCO and other organisations’ drafting committees, assisting in the development of industry standard clauses.

In addition to his role in the global sanctions practice, Brandt routinely advises on contractual and tortious rights and obligations pertaining to a wide range of dry shipping matters, including charterparties, P&I club rules, bills of lading, ship sales and purchases, and shipbuilding.

Brandt has previously spent four years in Reed Smith’s Hong Kong office, where in addition to his dry shipping work, he assisted in a number of casualty investigations and criminal prosecutions arising from major casualties.

Praj Samant, Reed Smith’s Asia-Pacific managing partner, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Alex to the Singapore office, and back to Asia. He is a tremendous talent with a global perspective and commercial outlook, which is an invaluable asset to clients both in the region and beyond.”

Richard Hakes, global chair of Reed Smith’s Transportation Industry Group, said: “Our transportation practice’s commitment to Asia and to our clients based in the region is longstanding and Alex’s relocation is a direct response to the needs of our clients. We have a leading and growing shipping practice across Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore – with a number of new arrivals in the last year. Alex will be joining that team at an exciting time for us, and at a time where there is high regional demand for his complex sanctions advice.”

Brandt added: “I am delighted to be making the move to a region I am very familiar with already. It is clear that our global clients require increased support in the region, and I look forward to working with the regional team here, as well as continuing to collaborate with our market-leading sanctions team globally.”

Photo credit: Reed Smith
Published: 12 August, 2026