Channel 7 employee alleged to have bought Bruce Lehrmann Thai Massage

A Seven employee reportedly used a company credit for massages for himself and Bruce Lehrmann in the lead-up to the program’s exclusive interview.

Bruce Lehrmann. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

A Seven Network Spotlight employee reportedly used a company credit card to book Thai massages for himself and Bruce Lehrmann in the lead-up to the program’s exclusive interview.

As reported by news.com.au and The Daily Telegraph, the employee and Mr Lehrmann ­allegedly negotiated particulars of the interview during the massages in November 2022, which cost $1000 in total.

On Thursday night Mr Lehrmann denied this happened.

“It’s an untrue and bizarre story from a disgruntled ex-­Network Seven producer,” he said. “Network Seven have only ever covered reasonable travel for filming and accommodation.”

It was reported the ­employee who booked the massages did so without the knowledge of the program’s producer, executive producer or anyone else at Spotlight. The producer left the network months ago.

Seven insisted the employee pay for the massages themselves and repay the Seven Network for the credit card expense. It was reported that a producer suggested the employee ask the masseuse to reverse the transactions the next day and offer to pay cash including a $250 “bonus”.

It was also reported that Mr Lehrmann remained at the employee’s residence for a number of hours after the massages. During this period additional expenses were charged to the Seven West credit card. This was said to have amounted to $2940.

The employee reportedly reimbursed Seven on November 29 for the total expense.

During Mr Lehrmann’s defamation trial against Network 10 and host Lisa Wilkinson, in which he has argued he was improperly implicated in rape allegations by former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins, it came to light that Seven West Media provided Mr Lehrmann with a complimentary apartment for a year. The apartment was rented for $4000 a month. The lease is set to expire on April 21.

The Spotlight team had a Walkley nomination revoked for the interview after the agreement came to light.

Mr Lehrmann is facing rape charges against a Toowoomba woman, but has not been committed for trial.

He intends to plead not guilty. His rape trial relating to Ms Higgins’ allegations was aborted over juror misconduct.

Mr Lehrmann pleaded not guilty and has maintained his innocence.