A senior executive of Crown Resorts has been caught up in the scandal engulfing Fiat Chrysler Australia.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Fairfax Media can reveal that Ishan Ratnam, a vice-president of Crown Resorts, has become embroiled in the legal case. It is alleged in court documents that former Fiat Chrysler Australia (FCA) managing director Clyde Campbell funnelled money through a company called My Alfa Romeo, which is owned by Mr Ratnam and Mr Campbell's wife, Simone Campbell, to buy a $400,000 luxury boat.
Mr Ratnam is named by an alternative spelling in court documents, Ishan Kunaratnam.
According to the writ, My Alfa Romeo was paid $550,000 by FCA to provide a "mobile outdoor floating billboard" for the company. It is instead alleged that Mr Campbell used the money towards the purchase of a 40-foot Chris Craft boat valued at in excess of $400,000.
Mr Campbell authorised the payments to be made to My Alfa Romeo, controlled by his wife and Mr Kunaratnam, via the Melbourne office of global media and advertising agency Maxus.
The revelations come a week after Fairfax Media reported Mr Campbell was accused of misappropriating and misusing more than $30 million in company money to fund an extravagant lifestyle for his family and business associates as well as providing free cars for celebrities Shane Warne, Elizabeth Hurley, Harry Kewell and Gary Ablett jnr. The allegations were made in a Federal Court lawsuit filed by Fiat Chrysler.
My Alfa Romeo has been served with a Federal Court subpoena demanding it produce all documents "evidencing or recording the work done and the services provided by My Alfa Romeo Australia".
Mr Ratnam's solicitor, John Price, told Fairfax Media his client denied that no "floating billboard" was received for the $550,000 payment.
"There is a contract between My Alfa Romeo and FCA and the billboard was provided," Mr Price stated.
"My client denies that assertion, as certainly Fiat Chrysler did receive it.".
Mr Ratnam has a number of titles at Crown Melbourne, including vice-president of VIP Gaming Services. He has authority over Club 23, a bar collaboration between James Packer, Shane Warne and poker player Joe Hachem, as well as the company's exclusive Capital Golf Club.
Fairfax Media does not suggest Warne, Hurley, Ablett jnr or the Kewells have done anything inappropriate.
