Pop star’s ex-manager attacks fraud prosecution
Pop star Guy Sebastian’s former manager says he should never have been criminally sanctioned over accusations he embezzled his celebrity client’s money.
Titus Day, 52, managed the singer through his label 6 Degrees between 2009 and 2017 before their relationship ended acrimoniously.
A year later, Sebastian filed a lawsuit in the Federal Court against his former manager, alleging Mr Day had misused performance fees.
Mr Day counter-claimed against the celebrity, claiming he owed him kickbacks.
The first Australian Idol winner faced two criminal charges over allegations that he embezzled more than $620,000.
The executive was initially convicted on 34 counts of fraud; these charges were overturned on appeal after a second jury acquitted him on four counts and was unable to reach a verdict on the remaining charges.
The Director of Public Prosecutions refused to pursue a third trial.
But the fight was not over yet and the bitter dispute returned to the Federal Court after a long break.
The civil suit currently alleges Mr Day misappropriated funds in up to 10 transactions, but Sebastian’s lawyer said this would likely be expanded to include other transactions outlined in the criminal proceedings.
“This is because my client was unaware of many of these transactions until he became a witness at the criminal trial,” Mark Faraday said.
He requested time to file an amended claim that likely included an allegation of “systemic fraud occurring over a much longer period of time.”
Documents related to the criminal case have been requested and are expected to be part of the civil fight between the award-winning musician and his former manager.
Mr Day, who represented himself throughout the hearing, told reporters the criminal investigation “should never have happened in the first place”.
“Of course it wasn’t supposed to happen, but it’s over now, everything’s fine,” he said off the field.
The civil case will return to court in December, more than seven years after the charges were first leveled.
Sebastian rose to stardom after winning the first season of Australian Idol in 2003, releasing 11 albums, three of which were chart-topping, and collecting seven ARIA awards.
