Australian Federal Police close books on Tabcorp investigation

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) are calling it quits on a lengthy investigation into whether or not officials at Tabcorp gave $200,000 to family members and associates of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. After three years of inquiry, the AFP found no evidence of wrongdoing by Tabcorp executives or employees.
At the heart of the investigation is whether or not Tabcorp used bribery as a means of attempting to break into the Cambodian digital lottery market back in 2011. Under Australian law, payments of the type alleged in the investigation are strictly prohibited when they are intended to, “gain a business advantage or facilitating of services.”
Elmer Funke Kupper, who was the top executive at the company at the time of the alleged payment stepped down from his official duties at the company, as well as his spot as CEO of the Australian Securities Exchange at the time of the matter.
Tabcorp officials cooperated with authorities during the entire investigation and issued a statement about it saying, “Tabcorp has been advised today by the Australian Federal Police that it has closed its investigation into the Cambodian matter and that it is not intending to take any action in respect of this matter. Tabcorp has co-operated with the AFP throughout the investigation and welcomes the conclusion of this matter.”
The AFP was equally unemotional in their description of the end of the investigation saying, “In 2019 the AFP conducted a review of this long and thorough investigation and found it is not possible to obtain the evidence required to support a criminal prosecution. The AFP now considers this matter finalized.”
Tabcorp stock rose .4 percent on news of the investigation’s end.