GGRAsia – Nevada judge asked to unseal investigation on Sands China

Nevada judge asked to unseal investigation on Sands China

Jun 10, 2015 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck, World

Two organisations have asked a Clark County district judge in Nevada to unseal documents that could reveal business ties between Sands China Ltd, the Macau unit of Las Vegas Sands Corp, and people that are allegedly members of Chinese triads, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

According to the newspaper, Guardian News and Media Ltd, publisher of the U.K.-based newspaper The Guardian, and the Campaign for Accountability, a not-for-profit organisation, have filed separate motions “to intervene and unseal records” in a wrongful termination case brought by Steve Jacobs – a former chief executive of Sands China – against the companies and their chairman, Sheldon Adelson.

Both organisations requesting the public disclosure of documents have specifically asked Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez to unseal Exhibit 1100, also known as the Vickers Reports, the newspaper added. The reports were compiled by private investigator Steve Vickers, a former Hong Kong police officer.

The disclosure motions argue that the requested material covers matters of “extreme” public interest, including possible business ties between the casino operator and people allegedly linked to organised crime in China.

Both motions claim that it is important to know how a publicly traded Nevada corporation is operating, including the influence of or by foreign entities.

Judge Gonzalez ruled on May 22 that Mr Jacobs’ wrongful lawsuit could proceed in Nevada . A Las Vegas Sands spokesman has said however that the company is pursuing all options to appeal that decision.