Guy Sebastian says evidence has been fabricated by his former manager to exonerate him of allegedly embezzling nearly $1 million from the pop star.
Giving evidence for his sixth day in the NSW District Court on Monday the 40-year-old was taken to money purportedly paid by his management to two companies he says he’s never heard of.
“I strongly reject that,” Sebastian said while shaking his head and chuckling.
Defence barrister Dominic Toomey SC asked if he found “this somehow amusing”.
“No I find these documents amusing and your suggestions far-fetched, and it’s getting monotonous,” Sebastian responded.
The Crown says this is part of Day’s cover-up to explain how he allegedly embezzled almost $900,000 between 2013 and 2020 from the singer, who he managed via 6 Degrees between 2009 and 2017.
Day, 49, has pleaded not guilty to 50 charges including fraudulently embezzling money allegedly owed to Sebastian through royalties and performance fees.
He also denies 50 alternative counts of larceny, or stealing.
Mr Toomey argues that his client was owed money on contra, or items gifted to Sebastian by brands in exchange for his services or ambassadorship.
These included Toyota cars, Air Asia flights, and for one festival appearance in Queensland Sebastian performed in exchange for a Bluefin boat.
Day allegedly sent Sebastian an email saying his purported fee for the gig would have been up to $150,000, and that he should receive a commission from that sum.
But Sebastian disputed that amount saying it was rare to be paid that much for a music festival appearance and denied ever having a conversation agreeing to pay Day money for his gifts.
“This boat thing has gone around in circles … I reject that suggestion, and the context I will give will clearly explain why that is ludicrous.”
The musician first filed a civil lawsuit against his long-time manager in July 2018, when he says he discovered money was owed to him.
Two years later he approached police when he allegedly discovered “criminal behaviour”.
The Australian singer said he initially sued Day following a painful process of seeking answers and clarity on where his alleged missing money was.
“(It’s ) hard to determine what was completely fabricated and what was being put to us,” he said.
But he denied harbouring such ill-will towards Day that he would outright reject any proposition or document put forward that might be in Day’s favour.
“That’s not the case.”
Mr Toomey earlier told the court his client has an answer to every single charge, and the explanation is obvious.
Sebastian is due to continue giving evidence on Tuesday.
