The former captain of the Australian team fled his home in Dublin before the arrival of the Irish police, who came to arrest him so that he could serve his five years in prison for tax evasion in Narbonne.
New twist in the Rocky Elsom affair. The former captain of the Wallabies (75 caps) was convicted on October 11 by the Narbonne court for forgery, use of forgery and abuse of corporate assets during the period from 2015 to 2016, when he was president of Racing Narbonne Mediterranean Club.
With an international arrest warrant issued for him, Elsom decided to flee his home in Dublin to escape the Garda (Irish police). He was a coach at Catholic University School, where police also tried to arrest him. The former third line winger must also repay 700,000 euros, the sum he had embezzled from the Narbonne club.
Questioned by the Sydney Morning HeraldElsom still loudly proclaims his innocence and explains the reasons for his flight. “If I am in custody, my defense will become much more expensive and much more difficult. If I'm detained, I should hire a lawyer who will do everything for me… All the phone conversations, to try to find documents, to talk to people, to try to defend myself.”
He says he is ready to face the accusations to which he must respond but preferred not to stay in France waiting to be able to appeal, because of the slowness of the French administrative system. In the meantime, the 41-year-old man is taking refuge not far from Belfast in Northern Ireland. A hearing has been set for November 15.
France
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