A safety officer employed by Crown Casino has initiated legal action against billionaire James Packer, claiming Packer physically accosted him while under the influence.
The officer, Iskandar Chaban, lodged the suit in the Victorian Supreme Court, naming his employer, MSS Security, along with Packer and Crown Resorts as defendants. Legal filings indicate the alleged incident transpired on January 1, 2016. Chaban asserts Packer subjected him to verbal abuse and threats before forcefully pushing him in the chest.
This legal proceeding follows closely on the heels of a separate legal dispute involving Crown. Earlier this week, former Crown staff member Jenny Jiang filed her own lawsuit against the corporation, alleging Crown’s actions resulted in substantial harm and financial setbacks for her.
Further compounding Crown’s troubles, the Victorian government declared it would be undertaking an advanced evaluation of Crown Melbourne’s casino license. This decision stems from startling revelations of illicit financial activities that surfaced during the New South Wales Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority’s (ILGA) open investigation into Crown’s business dealings.
Although the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) is mandated to review Crown’s license every five years, with the most recent one occurring in 2018, the current wave of controversies has triggered this expedited assessment. Melissa Horne, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, affirmed, “We are ensuring Crown Melbourne is functioning in an open and suitable fashion.”
Considering the discoveries of the New South Wales investigation, this evaluation is critical. Crown has been actively collaborating with the Victorian Gaming and Alcohol Control Board (VGACB) to tackle the concerns highlighted by the Unlawful Actions Gaming Commission (UAGC) probe, encompassing Crown’s improvement plan. It’s fitting to move forward with the subsequent assessment as we anticipate the inquiry’s outcomes to guarantee Crown Melbourne is eligible to retain a Victorian permit. Crown will persist in working with the VGACB and endorse this evaluation.
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