The former CEO of the Star was not responsible for every aspect of the business and instead played a “supervisory role”, a court has heard in ASIC’s case over the casino’s money laundering failures.
Star Entertainment’s management and board cannot shirk responsibility for turning a blind eye to money laundering risks by pointing the finger at each other, ASIC has told a court.
A business lender that issued personal loans is on the hook for unlicensed credit activity, but ASIC’s action against the director has failed, with a judge finding the regulator was “entirely indifferent” to the circumstances of the case.
On questioning by a judge, Star’s former top lawyer has denied making a mistake by failing to tell the board about issues with junket Suncity in May 2018, but said her view was different now with hindsight.
During trial on Monday, ASIC also accused Star’s former top lawyer of giving false evidence about alleged cash for chip transactions in junket operator Suncity’s VIP room.
The Star’s former CEO has told a court he thought a general counsel was “painting very dramatic pictures” when he voiced concerns about cash transactions in junket operator Suncity’s VIP room.
A judge has questioned the former CEO of Star about a report that contained “startling” information about the casino’s significant junket operator Suncity that linked it to organised crime.
Facing a grilling at trial in ASIC’s money laundering case, Star’s former boss has been accused of giving a false account of a conversation he had with the casino operator’s head of due diligence.
A judge has imposed penalties against Star’s former managing director and former CFO as part of settlements reached with the corporate regulator, as trial against nine other executives continues.
Star’s former managing director Greg Hawkins has reached a mid-trial settlement with the corporate regulator in its case over the casino operator’s alleged lax money laundering compliance.