Abdul Latif Ibrahim led rogue team in Singapore’s largest marine fuel theft, netting millions
A complex, multi-year fuel heist involving Shell’s Pulau Bukom facility has culminated in a 25-year jail sentence for one of its masterminds. Abdul Latif Ibrahim, 67, orchestrated the siphoning of nearly S$100 million in marine gas oil, marking one of the largest corporate thefts in Singapore’s history.
The Crime: Siphoning Fuel Worth Millions
Between August 2014 and January 2018, Abdul Latif Ibrahim led a sophisticated scheme to misappropriate 153,996 tonnes of marine gas oil from Shell’s Pulau Bukom facility. The oil, worth around S$100 million (Rp1.25 trillion), was illegally sold to local and foreign vessels. Latif, a long-time Shell employee earning S$3,700 monthly, pocketed at least S$7 million in illicit profits.
A Mastermind Reborn After Split
The scam dates back to 2007, when Latif and fellow employee Juandi Pungot began stealing fuel together. After a fallout in 2013, Latif left the original syndicate, only to return under Shell’s re-employment scheme and form a new team. He brought in Richard Goh Chee Keong, who later recruited Ng Chee Seng. When Ng exited, Mohd Ibrahim K. Abdul Majid joined the operation in 2015.
Elaborate Methods, Bribery and Tampering
The group employed elaborate tactics to avoid detection. They rerouted pipelines to bypass meters, synchronized pumps to hide illegal flows, and even tampered with measurement systems. Bribes were paid to bunker surveyors, and uninvolved employees were encouraged to take long breaks during illegal operations.
Lavish Spending and Asset Seizure
Latif’s profits funded a luxury lifestyle that included:
- A Braddell Road condominium
- Two properties in Indonesia
- Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S, AMG E43M, and a BMW 435I Gran Coupe
- Business investments and funding two nephews’ education in Australia
Authorities later seized S$7.7 million in assets, including S$4.7 million in cash found in a safe moved across multiple locations.
Courtroom Sentencing and Ongoing Cases
On July 7, 2025, the High Court sentenced Latif to 25 years and two months in jail after he pleaded guilty to 20 counts of criminal breach of trust and 10 counts of money laundering. An additional 34 charges were taken into consideration. His sentence will begin on September 30.
Juandi Pungot, his former accomplice, had earlier received 29 years’ imprisonment in 2022 for leading a parallel operation that stole S$128 million in fuel.
Broader Syndicate, Unfolding Consequences
The massive heist affected vessels from companies such as Sentek Marine & Trading, Sirius Marine, and Vietnam’s Prime Shipping Corporation. Other syndicate members received jail terms ranging from 16 months to 26½ years. Cases against Richard Goh and Mohd Ibrahim remain pending.
The Shell fuel heist exposed critical vulnerabilities in corporate oversight and supply chain integrity. For both Singapore and neighboring Indonesia—where some illicit gains were invested—the case serves as a stark reminder of how deeply embedded corruption can undermine trust and security. The court’s decisive action sends a strong message: white-collar crimes of this magnitude will not go unpunished.
Sources: Straits Times (2025) , Malay Mail (2025)
Keywords: Shell Fuel Heist, Abdul Latif Ibrahim, Marine Gas Oil, Pulau Bukom, Singapore Crime, Criminal Breach Of Trust
