Guy Sebastian’s Former Manager Found Guilty Of Embezzlement

Following a lengthy trial, Guy Sebastian’s former manager Titus Day has been found guilty of embezzling some of the singer’s money.

As The Sydney Morning Herald reports, a NSW District Court jury took almost a week to reach a verdict.

Accused of withholding more than $880,000 for royalties, ambassadorships and performance fees between 2015 and 2020, Day was charged with 47 counts of embezzlement, of which he pleaded not guilty. The jury found him guilty of some of the charges and not guilty of others.

It was alleged that Day, who began managing Sebastian in 2009, fraudulently misappropriated payments from the singer’s tour in support of Taylor Swift in 2013, alongside $230,000 in royalties, funds from merchandise and more.

Upon receiving income for Sebastian, Day was to deduct a 20% commission and GST before forwarding on the rest. Sebastian parted ways with Day in 2017, claiming various amounts had not been forwarded to him, before taking legal action.

Day’s barrister Dominic Toomey originally tried to have the jury acquit him of all charges, claiming the former manager and Sebastian had both accused each other of owing money and that as such it was a commercial dispute that should be handled another way.

When Day was arrested in July of 2020, he stated in a police interview that: “Any money I hold of Guy’s, I say is mine, and is only a fraction of what he owes me. He terminated my contract and didn’t pay me commissions.”

When the trial first commenced, it was suggested that Sebastian may have used his fame to “seduce” police as they investigated Day.

The court was also told that Day had an answer for every charge against him.

The bumpy trial kicked off in May, before being delayed following the unexpected passing of Judge Peter Zahra, as well as Sebastian and a barrister getting COVID.