James Packer's Latest Brewhaha

James Packer's Latest Brewhaha

Tuesday, 12 January 2016

Billionaire James Packer has been in trouble recently after allegedly getting into a physical altercation with a security guard at the Crown Casino in Melbourne.

According to a report from The Guardian newspaper, the Executive Chairman of operator Crown Resorts and another of the company’s executives pushed aside the security guard after being denied entry into a VIP area of the Australian casino at lunchtime on New Year’s Day.

Forty-eight-year-old Packer and Crown colleague Ishan Patnam also purportedly shouted at 60-year-old security guard Iskandar Chaban before gaining access to the restricted zone.

Although the employee was reportedly told that a VIP would soon be heading his way, he revealed that he had not recognised Packer and had been temporarily suspended following the altercation. Crown Resorts confirmed that a ‘minor incident’ had taken place with Chaban additionally claiming that he had been taken to hospital after the episode.

“A contract security officer, working inside the resort, was radioed that one of Crown’s most important VIPs was approaching his position but failed to recognise Mr Packer, moving in front of him to attempt to physically block him from entering the casino and causing a collision,” read a statement from Crown Resorts.

“It’s understood that a verbal altercation ensued and Mr Packer continued into the facility.”

Chaban has since been reinstated while the Melbourne casino is set to host the latest edition of the Aussie Millions Poker Championship, which starts from today with a series of six satellite events.



Tags: Aussie Millions Poker Championship, James Packer, Crown Resorts, Melbourne, Crown Casino, Australia, Ishan Patnam, Iskandar Chaban, The Guardian