Robbie's casino closes

Robbie's casino closes

SYDNEY (DPA): The Christmas Island casino became the latest
victim of the Asian regional economic downturn Saturday when
Australian authorities moved to close it down after its operator
missed a deadline for debt repayment.

The Australian authorities, which administer the tiny Indian
Ocean island some 300 kilometers west of Java, gave the
Indonesian owners of Christmas Island Resort (CIR) a Friday
deadline to repay 2 million Australian dollars (US$1.2 million)
owned to sacked staff and creditors.

CIR, controlled by Indonesian clove cigarette king Robbie
Sumampow, did not meet the deadline and so is almost certain to
lose its operating license.

CIR, Christmas Island's biggest employer, has been battered by
the regional downturn, first losing many of the big-time gamblers
that came out on scheduled flights from Jakarta and then losing
the air service itself.