NY’s Paterson was embroiled in bid-rigging scandal
Two U.S. politicians and one former FBI director have been named to a new advisory board established by Imperial Pacific Holdings Ltd. The three-person committee consists of former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell; former New York Governor David Paterson; and Louis Freeh, onetime director of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, reported GGRAsia.
Imperial Pacific said the appointments, which took effect April 20, were “to provide the management of the company with sound strategic and tactical advice on issues that the group may face from time to time, including but not limited to business strategies and government relations.”
The company added, “The board has determined that the establishment of the advisory committee with members who have considerable experience of governmental and regulatory policies will strengthen the company’s corporate governance.”
In 2012, Freeh led an investigation that was used by Wynn Resorts Ltd. to oust former director Kazuo Okada, the company’s largest single shareholder at the time. Rendell, who is also the former mayor of Philadelphia, was an ardent proponent of casinos in the Keystone State. And during Paterson’s term as governor of New York, he was slammed for alleged bid-rigging by cozying up with developers of the proposed Aqueduct Entertainment Group casino, which would have been developed at the historic racetrack. Eventually, AEG lost out to Genting, which went on to develop one of the most successful and profitable slot parlors in the nation.
Imperial Pacific now operates a temporary casino on Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. commonwealth, and is in development with its $500 million Grand Mariana resort, which will include 15 villas, 350 hotel rooms, more than 200 gaming tables, more than 400 slot machines, and other amenities including restaurants, a beach club and a night club, reported GGRAsia. It is expected to open in the first quarter of 2017.
