Australian Judge Blasts AUSTRAC Over Crown Resorts Lawsuit

Australian casino operator Crown Resorts recently asked Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) for additional time to develop its defense, according to court documents. Now a federal judge has chided the financial watchdog over its continued foot-dragging in the lawsuit against Crown.

Federal judge Michael Lee publically criticized AUSTRAC over its prosecution of the Crown. He asked why the watchdog agreed to give the casino operator until May to mount a defense after already having a year.

He then labeled AUSTRAC’s decision “astounding,” comparing it to the resolution that ended the Napoleonic Wars.

The Congress of Vienna took nine months to talk about the future of Europe; you’ve had 12 months to talk about admissions,” Lee told AUSTRAC.

 

[GamblingBoy]

When Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre knew it was not fully prepared to institute its case against Crown, why did it institute it in the first place?. It would had saved its face from this embarrassment if it fully arranged its house properly. The court don't have time to be wasted on delay practice that had taken almost a year.