Both employees earned at least $1 million participating in scheme
Two former Shell employees have been sentenced more than 20 years of jail time for their involvement in a massive fuel theft operation at the company's Pulau Bukom facility, according to reports.
The Straits Times reported that Muzaffar Ali Khan Muhamad Akram were sentenced to 26.5 years' jail, while Koh Choon Wei was handed 23.5 years.
The pair was sentenced for the major roles they played in what the Times described as the "largest marine gas oil heist in Singapore's history."
The scheme, which involved multiple employees, secretly siphoned off more than 200,000 tonnes of gas oil worth more than $120 million between August 2014 and January 2018, according to the report.
Muzaffar was recruited for the scheme between the end of 2007 and early 2008 and conspired with mastermind Juandi Pungot to pay bribes to surveyors to cover up the crimes.
"Muzaffar played a leading role in the criminal enterprise, though he was not at the absolute top of the ladder," said Justice Aedit Abdullah as quoted by the Times.
Koh, on the other hand, was recruited in mid-2015 and taught to approach captains of vessels to make arrangements to sell the stolen fuel.
Abdullah described Koh's role as less culpable than Juandi and Muzaffar but was more significant than the involvement of other team members.
Muzaffar and Koh also made deals with the captains to ensure they had a steady stream of buyers and planned the execution of the illegal loadings.
As a result, Muzaffar earned at least $1.3 million for his role in the scheme, while Koh got at least $1 million. The illicit gains were used to purchase luxury watches, foreign properties, and cars.
Both men were granted deferments for their sentences, with Muzaffar set to begin his term on November 4 and Koh on September 30, according to The Straits Times.
They join six other employees who have been sentenced between one year and four months to 16 years and four months for their roles in the fuel theft.
Eleven marine surveyors were also sentenced between four weeks and 18 months for taking bribes and turning a blind eye to the misappropriation.
Juandi, for his role as the mastermind, obtained at least $5.6 million in criminal proceeds and was sentenced to 29 years in jail in 2022.
