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Sentenced to five years in prison by the Narbonne court, for forgery, use of forgery and misuse of company assets, the former third line had to flee Dublin. Irish police were preparing to arrest him at his home.
The descent into Hell continues for Rocky Elsom. On October 11, the Narbonne court sentenced the Australian to five years in prison for forgery, use of forgery and misuse of company assets. Sentence accompanied by the issuance of an international arrest warrant against him.
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A few weeks later, Irish police tried to arrest him in Dublin, where the former third row lived and worked as a coach in a university team. However, Rocky Elsom left Ireland as soon as the verdict was handed down by the French courts. The police therefore arrived at his home too late. They failed to stop him.
“The Garda came to my house”
It is he himself who recounts this incredible episode to the Australian media The Sydney Morning Herald: “The Garda (Irish police, Editor's note.) came to my workplace and my home to detain me. All I can do to say is that I spoke to the Garda, who told me that if I was in Ireland, they would have to bring me in. So I said that I was not there and that I did not. We're not going to come back any time soon.”
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“Clear perversion of justice!” Rocky Elsom reacts after his conviction for misuse of corporate property in Narbonne
Since then, it has been impossible to find a trace of the man with 75 caps for the Wallabies. According to the Australian newspaper, he crossed the border to take refuge in Northern Ireland, near Belfast, the capital. “When I have to go out, I keep my head down,” he confides. “I just have to try to normalize the situation to a certain extent. Being able to get enough sunlight or exercise, for example.”
The fugitive denies the accusations
While he held the position of president of the RCNM (Racing Club Narbonne Méditerranée), Rocky Elsom is said to have embezzled 700,000 euros from the club's coffers. Today, he believes that the French justice system did not inform him of the trial, the preventing him from preparing his defense.
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The former Toulon player denies the accusations outright, but says he is ready to answer them in court. He justifies his flight: “If I am in detention, my defense becomes much more expensive and much more difficult.” Rocky Elsom is also asking for help from the Australian government, which he considers “obligated to examine his question”.
