The former manager of the Imperial Hotel at Erskineville has been ordered to pay over $5,000 and banned from managing licensed premises for three years due to serious mismanagement that resulted in illegal drugs activity, intoxicated patrons and disturbance to the local community.
The sanctions against Murat Kilic have been imposed by the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority Board, which found he was not a fit or proper person to manage a licensed venue.
The decision follows an investigation and disciplinary complaint made by Liquor & Gaming NSW.
Between April and July 2015, NSW Police and Liquor & Gaming NSW inspectors attended the hotel numerous times and found intoxicated patrons, drug use and paraphernalia, noise and crowd control issues and CCTV cameras not working.
The ILGA Board found that Mr Kilic’s conduct demonstrated a considerable lack of judgment given the location of the hotel and that he proved wanting with respect to knowledge, ability and competence as a licensee.
The ILGA Board has ordered Mr Kilic to pay Liquor & Gaming NSW’s investigation costs of $5,233 and banned him from being the approved manager of licensed premises or a close associate of a licensee for three years.
Liquor & Gaming NSW’s Director of Compliance Operations, Sean Goodchild, said the case shows that the regulator will target rogue operators who jeopardise community safety and amenity by failing to properly manage licensed venues.
“Liquor & Gaming NSW and NSW police continue to work closely together conducting both overt and covert operations to ensure venues comply with the law and operate in a safe and responsible manner,” said Goodchild.