Guy Sebastian gives evidence at trial of former manager Titus Day

Details about Guy Sebastian’s performance fees have been laid bare as his former manager stands trial over an alleged $900,000 theft.

Australian music star Guy Sebastian’s performance fees have been revealed in court as the reality TV judge stepped into the witness box on Wednesday for the first time at a major embezzlement trial.

Mr Sebastian’s former manager Titus Day, 49, is standing trial in the NSW District Court after he pleaded not guilty to 50 counts of fraudulently embezzling royalty payments, performance fees and ambassadorship fees and 50 alternative charges of larceny or stealing.

Guy Sebastian leaves court after his first day in the witness box. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Police allege Mr Day, a former celebrity agent to stars such as Sophie Monk, Grant Denyer and Stephanie Rice, embezzled about $900,000 in royalty, performance and ambassadorship funds Mr Sebastian was entitled to between 2013 and 2020.

Mr Sebastian, a judge on Channel 7’s hit reality show The Voice and former Australian Idol winner, claims he discovered the theft when examining bank accounts after the pair had a bitter falling out and parted ways.

During the final part of his opening address, Crown prosecutor David Morters SC told the court that there were “shortfalls” in fund amounts transferred by Mr Day to Mr Sebastian, including the right slice of the $494,360 the singer earnt as a support act for music superstar Taylor Swift’s Australian concerts in 2013.

Grammy winner Taylor Swift during her 2013 RED tour in Sydney. Picture: Getty Images

The court was told that Mr Sebastian charged $49,000 for an Allianz Stadium performance during a British and Irish Lions rugby tour; however, no “no moneys were remitted” to Mr Sebastian.

The court was told that in 2017 Mr Sebastian commanded about $54,000 to perform at a wedding in Jakarta, $10,000 for a wedding at Sydney’s Doltone House, $66,000 to appear at a McDonald’s conference and $33,000 to perform at a Harvey Norman event.

As part of an arrangement between Mr Day and Mr Sebastian, money paid to the singer would go to Mr Day’s management business 6 Degrees.

Titus Day has denied wrongdoing and claimed Mr Sebastian owed him money. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Mr Day was then tasked with deducting the agreed portion of commission and paying Mr Sebastian the rest of the money owed.

“Mr Sebastian will tell you that the accused made undertakings to him that he (Mr Day) was going to transfer an equity interest in 6 Degrees from as early as August 2013,” Mr Morters said.

“He (Mr Day) was going to transfer 10 per cent of the company 6 Degrees to Mr Sebastian in recognition of the importance that Mr Sebastian played in his company.”

Mr Sebastian was the first witness to give evidence.

Mr Morters also revealed Sebastian’s wife Jules would be called to give evidence during the trial.

He said Ms Sebastian was a client of Mr Day’s and she “chased payment” from him.

The court was told that Ms Sebastian was to be paid $15,000 but was given $6403.

Mr Day’s barrister Dominic Toomey SC told the court the case against his client was “misconceived” and suggested police could have been “seduced by Mr Sebastian’s high profile”.

“When we dig deeper into the evidence and we go beyond a superficial view of it you will see there is an answer to each charge,” Mr Toomey told the jury.

“You might even wonder ultimately whether there was some ulterior purpose on the part of Mr Sebastian and police in the pursuit of criminal charges.”

Mr Day’s barrister says the case against his client is misconceived. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

Mr Toomey said Mr Day and Mr Sebastian had been involved in a civil case in the Federal Court when police “unceremoniously” arrested Mr Day and laid the criminal charges.

“In those proceedings in the Federal Court both men claimed that the other owed him money.

“It was in the Federal Court that what was essentially a business dispute ought to have remained.”

Mr Sebastian coached Sydney's Bella Taylor-Smith, the previous winner of The Voice.

On Wednesday afternoon Mr Sebastian told the court how he and Mr Day were introduced through Mr Day’s wife Courtney, a former Sony music executive.

“Titus said that he was starting a new company … and asked if I would go with him to 6 Degrees,” Mr Sebastian said.

“He would refer to me as his foundation client and a client that he needed to start a new company.

“I also needed him.”

After Mr Sebastian agreed to end his relationship with his former agency 22 Management, he joined Mr Day’s new agency.

Mr Sebastian rose to fame almost 20 years ago as the first winner of Australian Idol. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

“I was right in the middle of releasing music, the Like it Like That album,” he said.

“I was signed to Sony Music, I had numerous No. 1 records and I think it was two No. 1 albums at the time, two No. 1 singles, top five, top-10 singles as well.

“It’s hard talking about … I was very proud of what I had achieved at that point definitely.”

Mr Sebastian told the court that “basically everything” he did professionally was done by Mr Day when the pair worked together.

After the pair parted ways the court was told that Mr Sebastian’s new manager sought to set up a fresh royalties agreement with another company.

“Upon doing so there was a discovery I was already signed up to a neighbouring rights company by the name of Premier Muzik,” Mr Sebastian told the court.

When shown a copy of the contract with Premier Muzik, Mr Sebastian agreed his signature was on it but said he could not recall signing it.

“There were often times where I would be presented things to sign,” he explained.

“It wasn’t uncommon for contracts or agreements to be put in front of me and for me to sign. One of the benefits of my manager (Day) was he was a contract lawyer, so I trusted that if he put something in front of me he wouldn’t do so unless it was ready to be signed.”

Mr Sebastian will return to the witness box on Thursday when the trial continues.