Oil tanker robbery could have been an inside job - Police

Police have not ruled out the possibility of an inside job in the diesel robbery of three million litres worth RM8 million from an oil tanker in Pulau Ketam, Tuesday.

Bukit Aman Marine deputy commander ACP Abdul Rahim Abdullah said the possibility rose as the robbers had also abducted three important crewmen who were onboard of the Naniwa Maru tanker and knew the ins and outs of the ship.

“After the diesel was pumped out, the robbers had abducted the tanker’s captain, crew chief and the chief engineer,” he said at a press conference held onboard of the marine police ship in Pulau Ketam.

The abducted crewmen have been identified as Farizal the captain, Mohamad Alfan who is the chief engineer and Ariyandi Alhafsyah who is the crew chief.

All three are Indonesians.

The tanker left a port in Singapore on Monday with seven Indonesians, 10 Thais and one Indian national crew. All crewmen are aged between 28 to 55 years.

Abdul Rahim said around 1am on Tuesday, eight armed men in a small boat had boarded the tanker and ordered the crewmen to gather in a room in the tanker.

He said at the same time, two other oil tankers had approached the ship and pumped out the diesel in the tanker.

“The suspects took eight hours to pump out the diesels before escaping,” he said.

He said the suspects had also made off with crew men’ personal belongings like handphone, digital cameras, watches and cash.

Police believe the suspects have escaped to neighbouring countries. Police are now working closely with Singapore and Australia authorities to nab them.

The Japanese made tanker was designed in Hiroshima in 1992 before it was sold to a shipping company in Singapore.

But its name Naniwa Maru was maintained even after being sold.