Guy Sebastian’s ex-manager Titus Day showed ‘planning and deceit’: Court
A judge is poised to pause the civil lawsuit between Australian pop singer Guy Sebastian and Titus Day pending the embattled former manager’s criminal fraud charges.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Titus Day loses challenge to travel for UFC fight
- How Nine benefits from timing of Titus Day’s arrest
Australian pop singer Guy Sebastian’s civil lawsuit against Titus Day is likely to be paused pending the embattled former manager’s criminal fraud charges.
Police allege Day ripped off the chart-topping artist to the tune of $1 million over seven years, and the pair have been locked in a drawn out legal battle with Day also claiming Sebastian owed him hundreds of thousands of dollars.
On Wednesday Federal Court Justice Thomas Thawley indicated he was minded to stay the civil proceedings until Day’s 61 fraud charges are resolved.
But the judge said he would first consider any submissions from Day and Mr Sebastian, who is a coach on television music show The Voice.
MORE NEWS
COVID etiquette: How to behave in growing contagion
Porsche seized as AFP arrest construction identity George Alex
Water torture: Farmers fleeced by wealthy investors
Mr Sebastian alleges he discovered royalty payments had gone missing in January, more than two years after they acrimoniously ended their 12-year business relationship.
Day was arrested earlier this month by police, who allege the 47-year-old Bondi man effectively managed Mr Sebastian’s income and was “calculating” in deciding how much money to divert and how much to actually pay his former client between 2013 and earlier this year.
In a fact sheet, police also allege Day has more high-profile victims of fraud via his now defunct management company 6 Degrees.
Last week, Mr Day failed to have his bail conditions varied in the Supreme Court so he could fly to Abu Dhabi to support his client and UFC star Robert Whittaker during a fight after he was banned from international travel when initially granted bail on July 2.
According to a police fact sheet tendered to the NSW Supreme Court, Mr Day was “calculating” in deciding which amounts of money to divert and which amounts to actually pay the signer to avoid detection during his alleged offending.
“This shows a large amount of planning and deceit on (Mr Day’s) behalf,” police allege in the documents.
“The amount totals over $1 million dollars – this is a significant amount of money and police believe this is of the higher-level fraud offence.”
The documents state Mr Day became the director of 6 Degrees management in 2012 and Mr Sebastian was the first star to leave his old management and “go” with Mr Day in a marquee signing.
After they inked a deal, Mr Day effectively managed the income source of Mr Sebastian’s career and the pop star placed a large amount of trust into him, police allege.
The police fact sheet alleges an overseas company called Premier Muzik made 24 payments into a “trust account” for the services of Mr Sebastian between 2015 and this year, but only five of these payments were paid through to the singer.
The other 19 payments were either kept in the account or diverted into unknown accounts, the fact sheet alleges.
Police also allege in the documents they believe there are more high-profile victims of fraud as a result of Mr Day’s offending.
Mr Day was arrested on July 1 and taken to Waverley police station, where he told officers the matter was going through a civil court.
Mr Sebastian is seeking compensation for more than $1 million relating to the 61 fraud charges.
In court on Tuesday, Mr Day successfully had his bail conditions varied so he would only need to report to Waverley police station three times a week instead of daily.
The case will return to court in September.