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Wynn Macau sued by former Pagcor official


Casino operator Wynn Macau is reportedly being taken to court by a former Pagcor official, disputing the results of a 2011 report naming him and his wife as beneficiaries of an “improper relationship” between Kazuo Okada and Pagcor officials in 2008 and 2009, local media reports. 

According to information obtained by Macau Business Daily, Rogelio Yusi Bangsil Jr., an Officer in Charge of Pagcor’s Gaming Department in 2010, and his wife, were named as two of 17 people who had allegedly received more than US$110,000 in gifts and payments, including hotel nights in Macau and Las Vegas.

The report accused Okada of paying off Philippine gaming regulators, including two former chairmen of Pagcor. Okada was blamed for violating the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and company policy.

Bangsil said the report was unlawful and involved the “wrongful” disclosure of his personal data to an authority outside of Macau, which subsequently tarnished his professional integrity and damaged his career.

In a phone interview with Macau Daily Times,  Bangsil claims that the reason for his retirement from Pagcor was “because of the damage to my integrity and my career,” caused by the allegations in the report.

“I’m claiming damages that I incurred because of the police report disclosing [false] information about the hotel [room],” Bangsil said. 

“I am seeking an apology from Wynn. I want them to recognize that they did something wrong,” he added. “They paid [the MOP20,000 fine] so they recognize they made a mistake, so why are they not apologizing to the victims?”

“There is no truth to these allegations. They [the allegations] cut short my career and the whole family suffered because of that... I want to be compensated for the damages they caused us – including my wife and my child.”

The report was originally commissioned by Wynn’s board, and conducted by Louis Freeh, a former FBI director.

At the time, Wynn said that payments uncovered by the report were evidence that Okada was “unsuitable” to serve as director of the company. He was forced to sell his shares for US$1.9 billion.

It is understood that Bangsil will be taking the gaming operator to court, disputing the results of the report. The hearing is scheduled for June 22. 

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