Melbourne Racing Club probe finds 24 memberships tied to Greek chairman’s family

An interior Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) probe has recovered 24 memberships linked to president John Kanga and his household were purchased connected a single recognition paper up of his successful propulsion to take power of the $1 cardinal club.

The memberships were portion of the 170 signatures Kanga gathered to telephone a special wide gathering successful August past year, a petition aboriginal ruled invalid.

Despite the setback, Kanga’s allies were elected weeks later, securing him the chairmanship.

Read more: Racing into history: John Kanga becomes Melbourne Racing Club’s archetypal Greek Australian chairman

According to The Age, nine documents amusement astir of the 170 signatories had not attended a contention gathering successful the erstwhile year, and galore had lone precocious joined.

The MRC confirmed the 24 family-linked memberships but said they complied with the rules and were portion of a broader recruitment drive.

“Any memberships purchased by president John Kanga oregon his household were legitimate, accordant with the rules, and for household and friends wishing to support the club,” the MRC said.

“Payments made connected behalf of household oregon friends are not unusual and bash not breach the rules.”

There is thing successful the MRC oregon Racing Victoria constitutions that states it is against the rules to bargain aggregate memberships for different people.

Kanga rejected allegations of governance breaches lodged with Racing Victoria and the Racing Integrity Commissioner, describing them arsenic “ridiculous and without foundation”.

Since his predetermination successful October, 7 directors and respective executives person resigned, and the nine has reported a $17.3 cardinal loss, with indebtedness climbing to $178 million.

The MRC expects to trim that indebtedness if a $195 cardinal onshore merchantability astatine Caulfield proceeds.