12/07/05 JOHOR BAHARU (Bernama) -- A Singapore-based company, JBSResources Pte Ltd has denied any involvement in an incident where twoships carrying palm oil, "Samudra Sindo 8" and "Bash Aranda 7" which werealleged to have been hijacked by another ship early this month.

Last week, Bernama and several other media had reportedly said that thecompany had hired a palm oil tanker "Palm Cheam Chemical (Palm Chem)"which was alleged to have siphoned the palm oil from the two ships.

"We are instructed that this statement is incorrect as our client (JBSResources) was not a charterer or hirer of the vessel Palm Chem and wasnever involved in the disappearance of the two ships," said the companythrough its lawyer Neoh Lay Choo from Tay and Partners law firm in aletter to Bernama.

Bernama regrets the error.

On July 8, Southern Region Marine Police Commander ACP Abdul Aziz Yusoftold reporters that the force's special team had detained the Palm Chemvessel together with its 21 crew on July 3, after receiving information ofoil being transferred from Samudera Sindo 8 and Bash Aranda 7 into PalmChem.

A police report had earlier been made on the disappearance of SamuderaSindo 8 and Bash Aranda 7.

The Marine Police said Abdul Aziz, had managed to locate "Palm Chem" at11.45pm on July 7, which was laden with more than 3,000 tonnes of palmoil, berthed at 2.3 nautical miles from Tanjung Setapa, Pengerang.

-- BERNAMA