Casino owners hit back at ‘mud-slinging accusations’

CASINO owners have hit back at what they describe as a “mudslinging” claim that up to $100 million in the bank accounts of 13 TRNC casinos has been frozen following a Turkish investigation.

The claim, first published by Kıbrıs, CyprusToda y’s sister Turkish-language newspaper, involved alleged findings by the Turkish Council for Investigation of Financial Crimes (Masak) that huge amounts of money had been sent abroad to avoid taxation in the TRNC, leading prosecutors in Turkey to freeze the casino accounts as part of an on-going investigation.

In a statement, the TRNC Casino Entrepreneurs’ Union (CIB) said the claims, if true, should be supported by evidence which had not been provided so far.

“We do not want our industry, which makes a huge contribution to the economy, to be put under suspicion,” said the statement.

“If a crime has been committed, then it needs to be solved and any culprits put on trial.”

It added: “The contribution made to the economy by casinos is measured in millions of dollars and we have financed all the five- star hotels that have recently been built, yet we are constantly faced with unfair criticism.”

The CIB statement said casinos were often targeted by those in the media who opposed gambling.

“We are open to criticism and respect different opinions but unfounded criticism and destructive accusations are causing damage, not just to our sector but to the whole economy,” it said.

“We are not afraid of the press which writes the truth but we object to mud-slinging.”

Following publication of the Masak claims, the statement said the CIB had approached TRNC authorities who denied any knowledge of the matter.

“Since 2003, we have been providing all kinds of assistance to the authorities with the aim of ensuring that regulations would be adopted to enable casinos to operate under the control of international regulators, including the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Thanks to those efforts, in 2006 FATF removed the TRNC from the list of countries that launder black money.

“We have taken great strides to ensure that the sector is properly inspected.”

Kıbrıs said the claims could lead to the unnamed casinos having their licences cancelled and arrests being made.

Prime Minister Tufan Erhürman and Finance Minister Serdar Denktaş said initially last week they knew nothing of the issue, but Dr Erhürman confirmed later they had both spoken to Turkish officials about it. He declined to comment further.