Star high-roller employee ‘stole $13m’, then disappeared

However, the investigation into Lim took more than a year and he was made redundant in 2020 before it was completed.

There had also been unspecified misconduct allegations against its head of credit and collections, Adrian Hornsby, and complaints about international president John Chong’s leadership, with it being “not clear where he was for extended periods of time”, according to Bekier.

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Sharp put to Bekier that the VIP team was operating without proper supervision and was “simply out of control”, despite it being the riskiest part of the business and most vulnerable to criminal exploitation.

“Just at the point in the business where the flow of money was at its highest, and where the [anti-money laundering] risks were the greatest, and where the integrity risks to the casino were the greatest, senior management completely dropped the ball… didn’t it?” she said.

“I wouldn’t agree with the characterisation that we completely dropped the ball,” Bekier responded. “But there were clearly shortcomings.”

Bekier said that the Star should have told the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority about the allegations, further conceding the casino was not transparent with its regulator. “If we had a good relationship with the regulator, this would have been one of the things we would have made them aware [of],” he said.

The inquiry, triggered by reports by this masthead, continues.

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