SINGAPORE – The captain of a chemical tanker called GT Win told his crew to lie to the authorities about the true circumstances that led to

the death of their Vietnamese colleague

Nguyen Duc Nghi committed the offence after Mr Hoang Van Chau, 40, fell unconscious in a tank – earlier used to transport naphtha gas – and died from exposure to volatile hydrocarbons.

Naphtha is commonly used as a solvent and sometimes as fuel for camp stoves. Exposure to naphtha can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting.

On Feb 10, Nghi, 50, was sentenced to 14 months’ jail after he pleaded guilty to one count of performing an act that could obstruct the course of justice.

He was the second man linked to the case to be dealt with in court.

In July 2025, Le Thanh Dung, then 36, who was a pump master on board the Vietnam-registered GT Win at the time of the offence,

was sentenced to three months and two weeks’ jail

The case involving a third man, Dao Tien Manh, 32, who was then a chief officer on board the vessel, is pending. Nghi, Dung and Manh are also Vietnamese.

In earlier proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor Joseph Gwee told the court that GT Win had sailed from Thailand to Singapore with multiple tanks of naphtha gas as cargo. It arrived here shortly before 11pm on May 11, 2024, and was berthed at Sudong Anchorage.

At around 5...