Officials from China have officially apprehended three workers employed by the Australian company, Crown Resorts.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade verified that the government of China “has taken into custody 18 Australian Crown Resorts staff members under suspicion of offenses related to wagering.” Included in those apprehended is Jason O’Connor, the high-ranking executive overseeing International VIP relations at Crown Resorts Ltd., whose responsibilities encompassed enticing affluent Chinese nationals to engage in gambling at the company’s gaming establishments.
Initially held on October 13th, Chinese officials had a period of 37 days to formally accuse those under detention. With that time limit expiring this past weekend, a minimum of three of the detained Australians will continue to be held for an additional eight weeks following their arrest.
These apprehensions occur in the midst of a sequence of campaigns targeting corruption initiated by the Chinese government under the leadership of President Xi Jinping. These campaigns were prompted by the revelation of party representatives utilizing government funds to participate in gambling at casinos located abroad.
While directly endorsing and arranging gambling activities is prohibited within mainland China, the significant surge in Chinese tourists frequenting Crown’s Australian casinos might have attracted the notice of the Chinese government concerning adherence to Chinese regulations on advertising.
The Australian Financial Review further disclosed that an Australian operator of gambling junkets, along with as many as 13 additional Crown Resorts personnel employed in China, have also been taken into custody.
Although the concluding accusations against the royal employee remain undisclosed, should legal proceedings commence, the entirety of the concealed scandals will be exposed for public scrutiny. Law enforcement continues its inquiry and will determine if they will pursue the most severe penalties available.
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