Fresh new information has shed light on why Australian rugby hero Rocky Elsom was sentenced to five years in jail after being found guilty of embezzling money while acting as president of French team Racing Club Narbonne almost 10 years ago.
An international arrest warrant has been issued for the former Wallabies defender after he was sentenced in absentia to five years in prison for embezzlement of corporate assets.
The 41-year-old, who earned 75 caps for the Wallabies during his playing career, was also ordered to repay $1.1 million in compensation.
The Narbonne Criminal Court found him guilty of forgery, use of forgery and embezzlement of corporate assets during his time at the club between 2015 and 2016.
Elsom has vehemently denied the shocking claims and, according to The Sydney Morning Heraldfiled an opposition to the court charges. A hearing has been scheduled for November 15.
The outlet claims to have seen a 17-page charge sheet outlining the case brought against the former rugby star. The charges have been compiled by Magistrate Melodie Fabre and claim that Elsom sent a payment from Heineken to a company in his name and had paid advances to a number of players. He is also alleged to have delayed the date of a doctor’s contract.
In the document, Fabre claims to have discovered that Elsom made multiple payments while the club was in serious financial difficulties. The document adds that these payments were made ‘to benefit his circle of friends and serve his own interests.’
Former Australian rugby star Rocky Elsom has been sentenced to five years in prison by a French court
New details have emerged about the case alleging Elsom made advance payments to players.
The document is also understood to detail multiple complaints made against Elsom by club officials who succeeded him when he left in 2016. They also include some witness accounts from staff members that weigh in favor of Elsom’s argument against the allegations.
“At worst, it shows there could be a fragile civil case against me if (the allegations were) correct, but there are certainly no criminal offenses here and nothing I would say would be detrimental to the club,” he said, speaking in the case brought against him.
Player payments
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, court documents suggest Elsom had paid advances and salary increases to several players before resigning from his executive position at Narbonne.
The documents allege he had given an advance of 42,600 euros ($70,545.39) to former Wallabies running back Brett Sheehan. He had also increased former Waratah star Daniel Halangahu’s monthly salary from €1,946.27 ($3,223.01) to a whopping €16,692.82 ($27,643.23) per month.
Several other payments are said to have been made, including:
- A payment of 79,200 euros ($13,1154.80) to Australian runner Chris Whitaker;
- Brumbies and Wallabies hooker Huia Edmonds was also given a loan of around €45,000 ($74,519.77);
- payments of €26,483 ($43,855.72) to former Brumbies star Tom Boidin; and
- a check for 17,110 euros ($28,334.07) to analyst Warwick Harrington.
Other claims concern a backdated medical contract and claims that Elsom had accepted a payment to a company in which he had a stake on behalf of Heineken.
It is understood that the payments were made within 15 days and amounted to 293,513.72 euros ($486,057.25).
Explaining the payments, Elsom stated that it was normal for advances to be paid in July, marking the new season.
The doctor’s contract
The document also alleges forgery charges against the former wing in relation to a club medical contract.
Samy Djabelkhir signed a new contract with the club for the 2016-17 season, with Elsom allowing the doctor to take paid leave during the first weeks of his contract.
After returning from vacation, the doctor was fired and club officials told him that he did not know about the contract and that he had been fired.
The court declared that the doctor’s contract was six days old.
But Elsom rejected allegations of wrongdoing.
“It is ridiculous to suggest that anyone committed forgery by signing a document that accurately reflects their continued employment,” he said.
Heineken
The case also concerns payments made by two different brewing companies in relation to the club.
The first involved a sponsorship deal with Heineken. The Dutch brewer had made a payment of 40,000 euros ($66,239.80) to the rugby club that was not recorded on its books.
Instead, the payment was made to RCNM Investments, a company he co-owned and which had a stake in the football club.
Elsom claimed the payment was made before he became president of the club.
“For the avoidance of doubt, RCNM Investments never made any payments to shareholders and only paid RCNM to the rugby club or suppliers who provided a good or service to the club,” Elsom said.
The second transaction involved a payment that was made to Beer Clear, a UK-based bar equipment manufacturer.
The company was linked to former London and Tonga Irish international Chris Hala’ufia, who had previously been loaned a Land Rover Defender by the club, which was allegedly never returned.
The club had paid 37,503 to Beer Clear but no service was provided.
Some of those who worked alongside him at the club have claimed that Narbonne was in good financial shape under Elsom.
“I paid the deposit on the deal (with Beer Clear), which was to supply beer and bar equipment,” Mr Elsom said. “(The club) did not honor the agreement, so no goods were provided.”
Among other claims in the document, Elsom has maintained that the club was in better shape during the latter stages of his tenure at the club.
He had also had the support of Michael Bouchier, a former Narbonne executive.
“In my honest opinion, Mr. Elsom’s financial management, during the three seasons in which he was majority owner of the club, (was) a remarkable success under very difficult and difficult circumstances,” Bouchier said.
He added: “Given that the RCNM spent millions of euros more each season following Mr Elsom’s departure, any claim that the RCNM was in a precarious financial situation at the time of the handover was objectively inaccurate and defies logic.” .