Australian Fortune Teller Believed to Have Laundered Money at Star Sydney
Summary
An Australian woman identified by the initials A.P., a self-styled fortune teller and feng shui master, has been arrested by New South Wales Police amid allegations she was part of a multi-million-dollar criminal syndicate. Authorities allege she encouraged clients to take large gambling loans, took large cuts (reportedly up to AUD 150,000), and laundered about AUD 800,000 at The Star Entertainment Group’s Star Sydney casino. Investigators suspect she rose to lead the so-called “Penthouse Syndicate” with links to corrupt bank employees, mortgage brokers, property developers and lawyers. Despite claiming to live on a disability support pension, A.P. was said to live in a multi-million-pound mansion.
The case raises fresh questions for Star Sydney, which has already been under regulatory scrutiny and had its licence suspended for three years; reports say the casino allowed wagers up to AUD 45,000 without triggering stronger safer-gambling or anti-money-laundering (AML) checks. Prosecutors have not confirmed whether alleged laundering occurred before or after the regulatory intervention against Star Sydney.
Key Points
- A.P. is accused of laundering approximately AUD 800,000 at Star Sydney while acting as a fortune teller and feng shui adviser.
- She allegedly persuaded clients to take large gambling loans, promising them wealthy outcomes, and took cuts up to AUD 150,000.
- Investigators link her to the “Penthouse Syndicate,” suspected of using corrupt professionals to facilitate fraud and laundering.
- The Star reportedly allowed large wagers (up to AUD 45,000) without escalating safer-gambling or AML interventions.
- Star Sydney’s ongoing regulatory troubles may be worsened by this case, complicating the operator’s bid to regain suitability.
Context and Relevance
This story matters because it sits at the intersection of organised crime, financial crime and casino compliance. Casinos are common channels for laundering criminal proceeds; failures in AML and safer-gambling systems can expose operators to heavy regulatory, financial and reputational penalties. For regulators, compliance officers and industry stakeholders, the case is a reminder that non-traditional influencers (in this instance a fortune teller) can be facilitators for broader criminal networks. It also feeds into ongoing scrutiny of major Australian operators and the effectiveness of recent regulatory interventions.
Author style
Punchy: This isn’t just a quirky crime headline — it’s a serious compliance red flag. If you work in regulation, casino operations or risk, the details here could indicate systemic gaps worth reading about closely.
Why should I read this?
Short and frank: dodgy fortune teller, big money, a casino that apparently didn’t blink. We’ve skimmed the legalese and pulled out the bits you actually need to know — if you’re interested in AML, casino regulation or industry risk, this one matters. If you just like weird stories, well, it’s a corker too.