An international arrest warrant has been issued for former Australian rugby captain Rocky Elsom, who was sentenced in absentia to five years in prison by a French court for misuse of corporate assets, according to a lawyer involved in the case.
The charges stemmed from Elsom’s tenure as president of the French club Narbonne from 2015 to 2016. The court also found him guilty of forgery and ordered him to repay €705,000 (approximately A$1.1 million), as stated by lawyer Patrick Tabet.
During his presidency, Elsom was accused of making unauthorized payments, including €79,000 to a former coach without justification, and hiring an individual based in Australia for about €7,200 a month, despite the person never visiting Narbonne or providing any services to the club.
The court’s sentence exceeded the prosecutor’s initial request of two years in prison. Narbonne, a club with a storied history, having won the French championship in 1936 and 1979, faced liquidation and relegation in 2018 due to ongoing financial troubles.