Lawyers Weekly Australia
Paula Maree Martin, the former chief legal officer of the Star Entertainment Group Limited, has appealed against findings that she contravened the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) by her failure to address money laundering risks from the casino’s then-largest gambling junket, Suncity, and its CEO, Alvin Chau.
The breach also extended to her role in misleading the National Australia Bank (NAB) about the use of UnionPay cards, or CUP, which had been strictly prohibited for use in gambling.
Justice Michael Lee imposed on Martin a seven-year ban from managing corporations and a $400,000 pecuniary penalty.
“The community is entitled to expect that a solicitor occupying such positions and having such responsibilities, within one of Australia’s largest casino operators, will display professional independence, accuracy and judgement of a high order,” Justice Lee said at the time.
