A Sands China Ltd investigation of Macau government officials – that a dismissed ex-employee says was ordered secretly by company chairman Sheldon Adelson (pictured) – can be used as evidence in a U.S. lawsuit, a Nevada judge has ruled.
But the report that was allegedly commissioned by Las Vegas Sands Corp – the parent firm of the Macau casino operator – may not become public, added Nevada District Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez in a decision on Tuesday.
Las Vegas Sands had originally asked for the documents to be treated as highly confidential, meaning only attorneys and the judge could see them.
Steve Jacobs, a former chief executive of Sands China, was sacked in the summer of 2010 for what he claims was his resistance to demands from the chairman to compile sensitive information on Macau officials. The company says he was terminated for “cause” including unauthorised deal making.
Mr Adelson said – in a March 2013 court filing on a wrongful termination suit brought by Mr Jacobs – that the investigation into Macau officials was commissioned by the dismissed executive and not by the company. Mr Adelson added he only found out about it after Mr Jacobs was sacked.
The former Sands China executive has been locked in a four-year legal battle with the company and its parent. Las Vegas Sands has argued that Mr Jacobs’ case against Sands China should not be heard in Nevada as the firm doesn’t do business there.
