New information has shed light on why Australian rugby star Rocky Elsom was sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of embezzling funds while president of French Racing Club Narbonne almost a decade ago.
An international arrest warrant has been issued for the former Wallabies backrower after he was sentenced in absentia to five years in prison for misuse of company property.
The 41-year-old, who won 75 caps for the Wallabies during his playing career, was also ordered to pay back $1.1 million in restitution.
He was found guilty by the Narbonne Criminal Court of forgery, use of forgery and misuse of company property during his time at the club between 2015 and 2016.
Elsom has strenuously denied the shocking allegations. The Sydney Morning Herald has filed an appeal against the court’s charges. A hearing is scheduled for November 15.
The outlet claims to have seen a 17-page indictment laying out the case against the former rugby union star. The charges were collected by magistrate Melodie Fabre and allege that Elsom directed a payment from Heineken to a company in his own name and made advance payments to several players. He also allegedly backdated a doctor’s contract.
In the document, Fabre claims to have discovered that Elsom made multiple payments while the club was in dire financial straits. The document adds that these payments were made “to benefit his circle of friends and to 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 paid advances to players
The document also includes multiple complaints filed against Elsom by club officials who succeeded him when he left in 2016. They also include some testimony from staff members who argue in Elsom’s favour against the claims.
“At worst, it shows that there is a vulnerable civil case that could be brought against me [the claims were] true, but there was certainly no criminal offence here and nothing that I would say was damaging to the club,” he said, speaking about the case brought against him.
Player payments
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the court filing suggests that Elsom paid advances and pay rises to several players before he left his role as Narbonne director.
The documents allege he handed over an advance of €42,600 ($70,545.39) to former Wallabies halfback Brett Sheehan. He also increased the monthly salary of former Waratahs star Daniel Halangahu from €1,946.27 ($3,223.01) to a whopping €16,692.82 ($27,643.23) a month.
Several other payments were also said to have been made, including:
- A payment of €79,200 ($13,1154.80) to Australian halfback Chris Whitaker;
- a loan was also made to Brumbies and Wallabies hooker Huia Edmonds of around €45,000 ($74,519.77);
- payments of €26,483 ($43,855.72) to former Brumbies star Tom Boidin; and
a cheque for €17,110 ($28,334.07) to analyst Warwick Harrington.
Other claims included a retroactive doctor’s contract and claims that Elsom had accepted a payment on behalf of Heineken to a company in which he had a stake.
The payments were reportedly made over 15 days and totalled €293,513.72 ($486,057.25).
Elsom explained the payments and stated that it was normal for advances to be paid in July to mark the new season.
The doctor’s contract
The document also contains allegations of forgery against the former winger in relation to a doctor’s contract with the club.
Samy Djabelkhir signed a new contract with the club for the 2016-17 season, with Elsom allowing the doctor paid holiday during the first few weeks of his contract.
After returning from holiday, the doctor was dismissed and club officials told him that he was not aware of the contract and had been dismissed.
The court ruled that the doctor’s contract had been revoked by six days.
But Elsom rejected claims of misconduct.
“It is ridiculous to suggest that someone committed forgery by signing a document that accurately reflects their continued employment,” he said.
Heineken
The case also involves payments from two different breweries to the club.
The first involved a sponsorship deal with Heineken. The Dutch brewer had made a payment of €40,000 ($66,239.80) to the rugby club that did not appear on its books.
Instead, the payment was made to RCNM Investments, a company he co-owned that 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 RCNM only paid the rugby club or suppliers who provided goods or services to the club,” Elsom said.
The second transaction involved a payment to Beer Clear, a UK-based bar equipment manufacturer.
The company was linked to former London-Irish and Tongan international Chris Hala’ufia, who had previously borrowed a Land Rover Defender from the club – which was reportedly never returned.
The club had paid £37,503 to Beer Clear, but no service was provided.
Some who worked with him at the club claimed that Narbonne was in good financial shape under Elsom
“I paid the deposit in the agreement [with Beer Clear] which was to supply beer and bar equipment,” Elsom said. “[The club] did not honour the agreement so no goods were delivered.”
Among other claims in the document, Elsom has maintained that the club was in better shape during the latter part of his tenure at the club.
He was also supported by Michael Bouchier, a former director at Narbonne.
“In my honest opinion, Mr Elsom’s financial management during the three seasons in which he was the majority shareholder of the club was [a] remarkable success in very difficult and trying circumstances,” Bouchier said.
He added: “Given that RCNM spent millions of euros more in each season following Mr Elsom’s departure, any claim that RCNM was in a precarious financial position at the time of the transfer was factually incorrect and defies logic.”