'A clear perversion of justice': Rocky Elsom breaks silence after dramatic arrest warrant
Updated . First published at
Former Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom has declared his innocence after being convicted of embezzling money while president and majority owner of French rugby club Narbonne a decade ago.
Elsom broke his silence on Tuesday (AEDT) by providing a statement to former Wallabies lock Peter FitzSimons and the Sydney Morning Herald.
Dramatic news broke on Saturday (AEDT) regarding Elsom being wanted on an international arrest warrant by French authorities.
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Rocky Elsom at Eden Park. Getty
A court sentenced him in his absence to five years in jail and French lawyer Patrick Tabet also claimed that Elsom was found to have made other "completely unjustified" payments.
Elsom, 41, is now living in Dublin and told The Sunday Times recently that he was working as a school rugby coach.
"In the interests of a fair and just process, I would ask Mr Tabet to send me a complete list of the documents and filings he used to secure the reported five year prison sentence," Elsom told the SMH.
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Rocky Elsom at Allianz Stadium. Getty
"Not allowing me to defend the charges, is a clear perversion of justice. I have little more information on the evidence that was presented in the hearing (other) than (what) is in the public domain.
"So, I can only address the allegations that have been raised publicly.
"I ask the public to consider the legitimacy of any process that does not allow for the involvement of the person being prosecuted.
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"I have been contactable via my email address and phone number, yet it appears the court process was fast tracked after an article appeared recently in The Sunday Times.
"This article gave my location, occupation and upcoming scheduled events.
"I have not been questioned in this matter and the lengthy process seems to have deliberately excluded me from giving evidence."
