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Terrex issue: Container ship captain faces HK court

SINGAPORE — The captain of the APL container ship carrying Singapore’s armoured troop carriers that was detained in November last year appeared in a Hong Kong court to face charges on Friday (March 24).

Pan Xuejun, 39, captain of the vessel that transported Singapore military vehicles into Hong Kong appears at West Kowloon Court. Photo: SCMP

Pan Xuejun, 39, captain of the vessel that transported Singapore military vehicles into Hong Kong appears at West Kowloon Court. Photo: SCMP

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SINGAPORE — The captain of the APL container ship carrying Singapore’s armoured troop carriers that was detained in November last year appeared in a Hong Kong court to face charges on Friday (March 24).

Pan Xuejun, 39, a Chinese national, was accused of importing strategic commodities to the territory without the necessary licence, the South China Morning Post reported on Friday.

Under Hong Kong’s Import and Export Ordinance, a licence is required to ship any strategic commodities. The maximum penalty for failing to obtain a licence is an unlimited fine and seven years’ imprisonment.

The article also said APL has been issued with summons and will appear in court at a later date.

Contacted on Friday, APL said it has yet to receive any summons, though. The shipping company added that it is rendering its support to Pan.

The ship carrying the nine Terrexes belonging to the Singapore Armed Forces was transiting in Hong Kong en route to Singapore. The vehicles were loaded at the Taiwanese port of Kaohsiung after a military training exercise.

Hong Kong authorities later said the vehicles were not “specifically” declared on the ship’s cargo manifest.

After completing its investigation into the incident in January, the Hong Kong customs department concluded that the consignee of the military vehicles, not the Singapore government, was responsible.

The Terrexes returned to Singapore on Jan 30, about two months after the seizure. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY FARIS MOKHTAR

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