Sentenced to five years in prison by French justice for misuse of corporate assets and use of forgery when he was president of Narbonne, Rocky Elsom, who is the subject of an international arrest warrant, escaped when police tried to arrest him in Ireland. The former captain of Australia, who played for Toulon, is now on the run and denies the charges against him.
He vanished at the last moment. When police officers visited his home and workplace in Ireland, Rocky Elsom fled. Sentenced last October 11 by a French court to five years in prison for breach of trust and use of forgery when he was president of Narbonne (2015-2016), the 41-year-old ex-rugby player, who must also repay the 700,000 euros that he is accused of having embezzled, is now on the run.
Following his conviction in absentia (without him being present), an international arrest warrant was issued for the former captain of the Australian team, who resided in south Dublin and coached at the Catholic University School . Without specifying how he escaped or where he is currently, Rocky Elsom spoke Saturday to the Sydney Morning Herald, one of his country's major media outlets. “The Garda (Irish police) came to my workplace, to my home with the intention of detaining me,” he confirmed.
Rocky Elsom fears the slowness of French justice
The native of Melbourne, who could be in the Belfast region (Northern Ireland), denies the accusations against him and assures that they are seeking to make him responsible for the financial mismanagement of the Narbonne club, which is evolving today. today in National (third division).
The 1.97m former third line winger assures that he is ready to plead his case in court but he fears the slowness of the French judicial system. Rocky Elsom fears a long period of imprisonment while he can benefit from an appeal before the Narbonne criminal court. A hearing has been set for November 15.
He hopes to get help from the Australian government
After deserting the Irish capital, the former Toulon and Narbonne player maintains a low profile on a daily basis. “When I go out into the street, I hug the walls,” he confides. “I spoke to the police and they told me that if I was in Ireland they would have to arrest me. I told them I wasn't there and I had no intention of go back anytime soon (…) If I am in detention, my defense will become much more expensive and much more difficult. If I am detained, I will have to hire a lawyer to do everything for me: manage telephone conversations, find documents,. talk to people, try to defend myself.”
The former Wallabies captain (75 caps between 2005 and 2011) is now counting on the Australian government to examine his case. And allow him to put an end to his run. “If an Australian citizen has little chance of getting a fair trial in a foreign country, I think they are at least obliged to look into it,” he hopes.
