Further updates from the Crown Resorts hearing in Australia have been described as "extraordinarily troubling," as further shortcomings in how the operator managed the risk of money laundering are exposed.
As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, the inquiry into money laundering at Crown Melbourne heard from CEO Ken Barton, formerly the company's CFO.
He claimed he had only learnt that one of the company's most important partners operated a cash desk at the casino in October 2019, when footage was leaked of potential money laundering activity.
In turn, Commissioner Patricia Bergin said this fact was "just extraordinarily troubling," to which Barton agreed.
Crown general counsel and company secretary Mary Manos also told the inquiry she advised the company’s board against publishing a full-page advertisement rejecting last year's media revelations, as she felt Crown did not have enough time to investigate the accusations fully.
That advert was subsequently published in major newspapers and as a release to the Australian Securities Exchange; Crown has since said this advert contained errors.
