Behind star boss Bekier’s dummy spear lies a more meaningful concern

In connection with the sensational testimony about Star Entertainment chief executive Matt Bekier’s ill-tempered desk and his touch with the authors of an independent report, there is the more sensible concern that the report, which was critical of the casino’s approach to money laundering problems, by the financial crime regulator.

In fact, the Royal Commission’s style review of Star helped by Adam Bell, SC, hear that Star claimed false legal privilege over KPMG’s report as the reason it did not go to financial crime regulator AUSTRAC.

This is in opposition to KPMG’s letter of commitment, which explicitly states that its report does not constitute legal advice.

This lack of transparency may be more controversial than the damn 2018 report, which painted a clear picture of the star as KPMG’s expectations fall in line with transactions and junkets. The report detailed how the casino group fell from its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing obligations. It also showed that the star is not doing his due diligence on high-rollers playing on Junket Gambling tours.

But what happened when the latest KPMG report was finally seen by the board’s audit committee was nothing less than a dummy save by Bekier, who refused to accept it and initially declared it “professionally wrong.”

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The two KPMG partners who were invited to the meeting sat outside and were not brought in to explain the report or answer questions.

Nor was it the answer that was expressed.

KPMG partner Alexander Graham, who provided evidence before the hearing on Tuesday, said he was punished at a later meeting by Bekier. “I remember the CEO turning pages that point to things that ‘this is wrong’ (then) turning the page ‘this is wrong,'” Graham said.