Guy Sebastian's former manager charged over alleged $1m fraud
Police have charged Titus Day, Guy Sebastian's former manager who allegedly defrauded him of $1.15 million, following his arrest on Wednesday.
"A celebrity manager has been arrested after allegedly defrauding another man of more than $1.15 million over a seven-year period," police said in a statement issued on Wednesday night.
Titus Day and Guy Sebastian in 2016.Credit:Anthony Johnson
"On Wednesday 3 June 2020, officers from South Sydney Police Area Command received a report of an alleged fraud committed against a 38-year-old man.
"Further inquiries revealed a number of frauds allegedly committed between December 2013 and April 2020," a police statement said.
The 47-year-old was arrested at a home in Bondi on Wednesday night.Credit:NSW Police
Local detectives noted alleged inconsistencies in financial documentation and bank account records.
Just after 6.30pm on Wednesday, South Sydney detectives arrested a 47-year-old man at a home at Bondi.
Mr Day was taken to Waverley Police Station and charged with 61 counts of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception.
He was refused police bail and is due to appear in Waverley Local Court on Thursday.
Police will allege in court that Mr Day knowingly withheld $1.15 million in earnings from Sebastian between December 2013 and April 2020.
A source close to Sebastian said on Wednesday night that he was "absolutely devastated" by the arrest.
It comes after years of bitter acrimony between the Australian Idol winner and his former manager, who both claim the other owes them hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Speaking to the Herald last month, Mr Day claimed he was owed money for services rendered.
"Guy terminated the management contract after 11-and-a-half years without notice and then refused to pay me commissions on any work that I did, even for events that had been completed. That crippled my business," he said.
"All income that is earnt comes to the manager first and then is paid on after commissions are deducted. That’s how management deals work. Any money I am holding from royalties or otherwise is a fraction of what he refused to pay me as commissions for work I did as his manager."
Meanwhile, Sebastian's legal team claims to have copies of emails between Day and Montreal-based international music rights company Premier Muzik it says prove Day was wrongfully diverting royalties intended for Sebastian, more than two years after they had split.
with Mary Ward