Singapore has charged two individuals with corruption for allegedly taking bribes in relation to the trading and supplying of bunker fuel.
The individuals charged are Muhammad Afzal Bin Mohamed Ekbar, at bunker trader of KPI Bridge Oil Singapore, and Mohammad Shafiq Bin Nezammuddin, Director of Straits Bunkering Pte Ltd.
According to Singapore’s Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau, Afzal allegedly “obtained gratifications” totaling at least USD $191,250 from Shafiq on multiple occasions between June 2017 and August 2018 as a reward for nominating Straits Bunkering for the supply of bunker fuel to KPI’s customers. Afzal had also allegedly “obtained a gratification” in the form of a SGD $90,000 loan from Shafiq as an incentive for also supplying bunker fuel to KPI customers.
Separately, between July 2017 and September 2018, Afzal had also allegedly given gratifications totaling at least USD $161,800 and SGD $5,000 combined to other individuals “on multiple occasions” as incentives for them to place orders with KPI for the supply of bunker fuel.
Afzal and Shafiq each face three charges related to offenses between June 2017 and August 2018, while Afzal face nine additional charges related to the offenses between July 2017 and September 2018.
Singapore is the world’s largest bunkering port and adopts a strict zero-tolerance approach towards corruption.
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