Ex-Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom remains on the run – here’s what he told leading Aussie businessman Mark Bouris when compared to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange
One-time Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom remains on the run and refuses to reveal his current location as he faces allegations of misuse of corporate assets when club president of French rugby club Narbonne.
Elsom, 41, spoke to leading Aussie businessman Mark Bouris on Saturday in a lengthy interview – but remained coy on where he is in hiding.
In what is sounding rapidly like a movie script, Elsom confirmed he left Ireland in a hurry recently, armed with only a backpack as there were fears he would be extradited to France on a European arrest warrant.
Elsom was recently sentenced in absentia to five years in prison for misuse of corporate assets stemming from his time at the helm at Narbonne between 2015 and 2016, allegations he firmly denies.
He was accused of forgery and ordered to repay €705,000 [$1.1million AUD].
Other allegations include Elsom backdating a club doctor’s contract, having a payment from beer giant Heineken illegally transferred to a company in his name and also agreeing to salary advances for players.
Elsom told business guru Bouris he isn’t comparing himself to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange just yet – his focus is building a strong defence case with a team of lawyers.
He also confirmed his mental health state is encouraging given he is effectively a wanted fugitive.
One-time Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom refuses to reveal his current location as he faces allegations of misuse of corporate assets when club president of French rugby club Narbonne
Elsom, 41, spoke to leading Aussie businessman Mark Bouris on Saturday in a lengthy interview – but remained coy on where he is in hiding
Elsom left Ireland recently in a hurry fearing he would be extradited to France on a European arrest warrant
Elsom, 41, was recently sentenced to five years in jail following alleged conduct when president of French rugby club Narbonne between 2015 and 2016
Elsom told Bouris he isn’t comparing himself to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange – his focus is building his defence case with a team of lawyers
‘I did nothing wrong, there are no victims,’ Elsom stressed in the lengthy interview with Bouris.
‘I have already been convicted [in absentia] but at no stage was I given the opportunity to defend myself.
‘I am doing a bit of [physical] training, it is important to keep my focus….I can’t be emotionally worn out or see myself as the victim.’
Elsom spoke to the Sydney Morning Herald earlier this month about the dangerous situation he is engulfed in.
‘All I can say is I spoke to the Gardaí [Irish police] and they said if I’m in Ireland they’ll have to bring me in,’ he said.
‘I said to them, ‘That’s good, I’m not in Ireland.
‘The important thing to remember is if I am in custody, my defence gets a lot more expensive and a lot harder.
‘If I’m detained, I’ll need to engage a lawyer to do everything for me, all the phone conversations, to try and find documents, to talk to people, to try and defend myself.’
In terms of being potentially recognised in public, Elsom admitted: ‘I’ll have to go outside at some point but I am keeping my head down, that’s for sure.’
