Sebastian rejects claim of court lies
MUSIC star Guy Sebastian has hit back at a suggestion he has been lying in court because of alleged “animosity” towards his former manager Titus Day.
Mr Day is standing trial in the NSW District Court, accused of fraudulently embezzling about $900,000 worth of royalty, performance and ambassador payments Sebastian claims he was meant to receive.
After the pair had a bitter falling-out in 2017, Sebastian claimed money owed to him was found to be missing when Mr Day stopped managing his income.
The dispute led Sebastian to start a Federal Court case, in which Mr Day lodged a counterclaim.
Police became involved in 2020 after Sebastian reported Mr Day to a detective.
Fifty embezzlement charges were laid following Sebastian’s report, which came several days after Mr Day made it known he wanted an apprehended violence order against the singer.
When Sebastian returned to give evidence at Mr Day’s trial on Monday, he clashed with defence barrister Dominic Toomey SC.
“You have great animosity towards Mr Day … you have such ill-will towards Mr Day, I suggest to you that whenever you are confronted with a document or proposition which you think might be in his favour, you reject it, regardless of whether your rejection is truthful or not,” Mr Toomey said.
Sebastian hit back, saying, “That’s not the case”.
The exchange came after Mr Toomey presented numerous documents that showed the movement of money into Mr Day’s 6 Degrees company bank account, later paid out to Sebastian’s.
Asked about an in-kind deal worth $140,000 he had with Toyota, Sebastian rejected the suggestion Mr Day had been allowed to take a 20 per cent cut or that the pair had discussed such an arrangement.
Shown a tax invoice from 6 Degrees that showed commission payable on the value of the Toyota agreement, Sebastian said no manager had ever charged him commission for in-kind deals.
The court heard a mixed cash and in-kind deal with audio company Bose, worth $200,000, was another point of contention.
The court also heard of multiple other fees and deals.
“I’ve learnt to be very sceptical of what you’re putting in front of me, Mr Toomey,” Sebastian said.
The trial continues.