Australia orders probe on allegations of special treatment for Chinese gamblers at Crown Resorts casino
- Investigative reports have alleged that government employees smoothed the way for Crown Resorts to attract wealthy Chinese players
- The high rollers who are alleged to have visited the casino on junkets from China include Ming Chai – the cousin of Chinese President Xi Jinping
Canberra on Tuesday ordered an inquiry into allegations that police, customs and immigration officials illegally smoothed the way for a prominent casino group to attract Chinese high rollers.
Crown Resorts, the country’s biggest casino company, has been in the spotlight since Sunday when a series of media reports alleged it used junket operators with links to Asian triad gangs, that drug traffickers laundered money through the company, and that government employees gave special treatment to wealthy Chinese gamblers.
Attorney general Christian Porter said on Tuesday he had referred the allegations raised by the Nine News investigation to the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity.
“It’s my view that there are sufficient concerns raised at least to warrant further investigations,” he told the Australian parliament.
Officials are accused of waving Chinese VIP gamblers through customs, issuing fast-track visas to high rollers and moonlighting for a VIP visitor to the casino.
Independent MP Andrew Wilkie told parliament that in one instance some gamblers stepped off a plane and travelled directly to the casino, stopping only to pick up a sex worker en route.
The high rollers who are alleged to have visited the casino on junkets from China include Ming Chai – the cousin of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying rejected the allegations against Ming.