SINGAPORE - Eleven Indonesian men were hauled to court on Wednesday (Feb 7) over an alleged illegal sale of 45 tonnes of marine gas oil worth $17,426.

They were each charged with one count of criminal breach of trust and are accused of committing the offence in the sea off Bedok at around 3.15am on Monday.

Two of them, Robby Lirpa Sugiharto, 34, and Sapidi, 44, were employees of a locally registered company, Brightoil Petroleum (Singapore).

Robby was the master of a tanker called Brightoil 326, while Sapidi was its bosun - an officer in charge of equipment and the crew.

The pair had been entrusted with the marine gas oil which they then allegedly misappropriated.

The police said in a statement that the oil was believed to have been sold to the crew of a foreign-registered tugboat, which has been seized for investigations.

The other nine men are: Stendlee Ambat, 23; Anomarin Mangerongkoda, 26; Franner Virty Einstein Sabaru, 28; Kiki Sarki Lintongan, 30; Emriko Sikape, 32; Jelli Daniel Lumantow, 34; Stenlly Kart Baule, 38; Yun Beriel, 41; and Herslag, 45.

The Police Coast Guard received information on Jan 19 that a foreign vessel was believed to have been involved in an illegal sale of 200 tonnes of marine gas oil with an estimated market value of $97,000. Officers managed to trace the vessel through follow-up investigations,

The police said: "Nine crew members were arrested for purchasing the stolen marine gas oil. Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of another two crew members of a Singapore-registered tanker for misappropriating marine gas oil on board without their company's knowledge."

On Wednesday, the court heard that the 11 men are believed to have been involved in several similar cases. They were not offered bail and will be remanded at the Central Police Division.

They will be back in court on Feb 14.

Offenders convicted of criminal breach of trust can be jailed for up to 15 years and fined.