Former Star Entertainment chief executive Matthias Bekier is under renewed fire after the corporate watchdog told the Federal Court he has shown no remorse for failing to disclose serious criminal‑risk behaviour linked to overseas junkets that funnelled billions through the casino. All information has been verified with a trusted, up‑to‑date source.
The court previously found that Bekier failed to alert the board to alarming conduct by Chinese junket operator Suncity in 2018 and 2019 including cash delivered in blue cooler bags, cardboard boxes stuffed with money, and junket staff hiding under blankets to avoid CCTV. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) successfully sued Bekier and former Star general counsel Paula Martin for breaching their duties.
At Wednesday’s penalty hearing, ASIC pushed for a $1.3 million fine and an eight‑year director ban, with barrister David Arnott SC arguing that Bekier’s behaviour went far beyond simple negligence. He told Justice Michael Lee that the former CEO had shown no insight into the seriousness of his failures and that the community needed protection from him holding another executive role.
Bekier’s legal team argued for a far lighter outcome an 18‑month disqualification insisting the court had found him negligent, not intentionally harmful. Barrister Justin Williams SC disputed ASIC’s claim that Bekier’s actions caused financial damage to Star, saying the watchdog was overstating the consequences.
The court will determine penalties at a later date, but the case has already become one of the most high‑profile corporate accountability battles in Australia’s casino sector.
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