Former Star CEO Banned Over AML Failures
Thursday 18 de June 2026 / 12:00
⏱ 1 min read
(Sydney).- An Australian court on Wednesday banned former Star Entertainment CEO Matthias Bekier from managing companies for six years and fined him A$700,000 (US$495,000) for failing to adequately address money laundering risks at the casino operator.
Court cites failures in anti-money laundering oversight
The ruling follows a Federal Court decision earlier this year that found Bekier and former Chief Legal and Risk Officer Paula Martin breached their duties by failing to properly manage compliance risks within the company.
In March, the court determined that Bekier did not adequately respond to a KPMG report highlighting weaknesses in Star’s anti-money laundering controls and criminal activity prevention measures. He was also found to have insufficiently managed risks associated with junket operator Suncity.
Judge questions executives’ understanding of misconduct
Federal Court Justice Michael Lee said both executives failed to demonstrate a full appreciation of the seriousness of their conduct. “It is one thing to regret the consequences of having been investigated and sued; it is another to demonstrate an appreciation of why the conduct found by the Court involved serious failures in the discharge of duties owed by senior officers of a casino operator,” Lee said.
Former legal chief receives seven-year ban
Paula Martin was fined A$400,000 and barred from managing companies for seven years. The court found she failed to adequately advise Star’s board about risks linked to Suncity, whose CEO was arrested in late 2021 over alleged connections to cross-border gambling and money laundering activities.
Resignations followed regulatory investigations
Bekier resigned as CEO in 2022 amid investigations into potential breaches of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws at Star’s casinos. Martin also left the company that year.
Star Entertainment did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Categoría:Legislation
Tags: Sin tags
País: Australia
Región: Oceania
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