Casablanca Surfers Paradise, Casablanca Brisbane owner Alex Said denies claims of unpaid wages

A Gold Coast night spot operator denies multiple claims of underpaying staff wages and owing five figure sums each to a tradie and a contractor. SEE THE DETAILS

A Gold Coast night spot operator denies multiple claims of underpaying staff wages and owing five figure sums each to a tradie and a contractor.

An electrical company’s former director claiming he’s out of pocket $87,000 is among those accusing Casablanca Surfers Paradise on the riverfront of short-changing them.

The nightspot denies the allegations and said it was prepared to defend any claim against it in court.

Others making claims are:

- event promoter The Trot Events’ owner Ezra James claiming he’s owed $11,800 for events held at Casablanca Surfers Paradise and Casablanca Brisbane;

- ex-Casablanca Surfers Paradise staffer Eduardo Jimenez claiming he’s owed $1100 in bar booth commissions;

- photographer Jarred Schot claiming $300 for a job at Casablanca Brisbane.

Casablanca Surfers Paradise. Picture: Richard Gosling

The then-director of the electrical company claims he was contacted by Casablanca Surfers Paradise in November 2022 for an electrical fit-out of the new venue.

He said the business was engaged by Casablanca Surfers Paradise operating company Xlea Investments Pty Ltd’s sole director Alex Said ahead of its July, 2023, opening for work.

Documents show an initial electrical company quote of $45,506.36 including GST, with a 20 per cent deposit made the next day on November 23, 2022.

The then-company director said the initial quote was for LED lighting but Mr Said “added” to the works.

“It just got bigger and blew out,” he claimed. “He (Mr Said) was paying us in bits and pieces then it started to slow down.”

The then-director claimed the last instalment paid was in February last year with $87,190 outstanding.

Alex Said. Picture: Instagram

Trot Events owner Ezra James - claiming he’s owed $11,800 - said he had had contracts for events on four occasions all successfully paid prior to March 23.

But after that, Trot Events had booked Canadian musician PartyNextDoor for two nights of afterparties at Casablanca Surfers Paradise and Casablanca Brisbane on the weekend of March 23 - and as of writing Mr James claimed he still had not been paid $11,800.

“He had all the excuses in the world,” Mr James said. “He was at hospital, away with family – meanwhile all my staff were unpaid and have got families to feed. (Both invoices) still have not been paid that Alex agreed to pay.”

“It’s just disgusting.”

Ex Casablanca Surfers Paradise employee Mr Jimenez said he worked for Mr Said from December 2023 to early February, claiming: “He didn’t want to pay me my commission – he owes me $1100.”

Mr Jimenez claimed the commissions were agreed in a contract he signed.

Casablanca Surfers Paradise. Picture: Instagram Casablanca Gold Coast

Photographer Mr Schot said he was “incredibly frustrated” claiming he never got paid for a three-hour event - at a rate of $100 an hour - at Casablanca Brisbane.

The Bulletin put all the claims to Mr Said and his lawyer Ron Behlau.

Mr Behlau, of law firm Behlau Murakami Grant, said Mr Said took the allegations seriously and would instruct his firm to “vigorously defend them, if they ever made there way to the courts or tribunals entrusted to deal with such matters”.

“My client wholeheartedly denies these allegations, which are, simply that at this stage. They have not been ventilated in any court, and those person’s making such allegations will need to be tested under cross-examination to determine the veracity of their claims.

“Until such time as a Court or Tribunal determines the truthfulness of these claims, they remain unsubstantiated,” Mr Behlau said.

It isn’t the first time Casablanca branded venues operated by Mr Said have faced underpayment claims.

In 2021 the Casablanca Broadbeach venue was accused of owing staff thousands in unpaid wages. Casablanca Broadbeach sole shareholder Deanne Said and husband Mr Said - the sole director - denied all claims at the time.