Mizuho Bank files case against Radiant World in Singapore

Japan's Mizuho Bank Ltd has initiated legal proceedings against the Singapore operating unit of iron ore trader Radiant World, filing a case in the country's Supreme Court, according to the court's website. Mizuho Bank, which is part of Mizuho Financial Group, is requesting an injunction against Radiant World Corporation. The court file did not disclose the specifics of the sought injunction.

Another creditor, Singapore trade-finance firm Incomlend, has also filed a lawsuit against the company and its founder, Pinkesh Nahar, demanding US$34 million, based on a court document cited by Bloomberg News on Friday. Concerns have arisen over Radiant World's alleged provision of invalid invoices to secure financing, leading some banks to freeze its accounts and trading houses severing business ties.

The Singapore Police confirmed that reports have been filed and investigations are underway. Mizuho Bank has declined to comment on the matter, while Incomlend has not yet responded to a request for information. A representative for Radiant World also did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In July, Radiant World stated that the claims against it were inaccurate and unsubstantiated.

Nahar established Radiant World in the early 2000s, with the company trading over 80 million metric tonnes of iron ore annually, as per its website. Deutsche Bank and KBC Group have frozen certain Radiant World bank accounts in Singapore, and other lenders have suspended credit lines, as reported by Bloomberg News earlier in August.