Ex-Parramatta Eels boss Scott Seward could face jail after DPP appeals sentence
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Adrian Proszenko
Former Parramatta chief executive Scott Seward isn't off the hook just yet for his role in the salary cap scandal after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions agreed to appeal his sentence in the District Court.
Seward escaped without conviction when he was sentenced in the Downing Centre Local Court in July after he had earlier pleaded guilty to dishonestly obtaining $221,106.50 from the Parramatta Leagues Club by arranging and authorising false invoices between November 2014 and June 12, 2015. Those fraud offences carry penalties of up to five years in jail, but Seward was given just a two-year good behaviour bond.
The NSW Police Force's fraud and cybercrime squad spent a year putting together its case against Seward.
Shocked by the leniency Seward was shown, police appealed and have succeeded in having the matter relisted at a District Court hearing in November. Police hope for a harsher penalty, potentially jail time, when the full circumstances of the case are considered.
The actions of Seward and others involved in the salary cap scandal effectively rubbed Parramatta out of the finals last season. The NRL claimed the Eels had illegally overspent about $3 million on players during a period in which the club earned two wooden spoons.
The governing body stripped the Eels of 12 competition points, a sanction that prevented the club from breaking a finals drought that had stretched from 2009. The Eels were also fined $750,000, while the NSW government sacked the leagues club board, which at the time also presided over the football club.
Not long after starting as Eels chief executive, Seward was informed there were $589,000 worth of outstanding off-the-books payments to players and managers.
According to the facts sheet tendered to the Downing Centre Court, Seward arranged for landscaping and ground maintenance firm Green Options to issue false invoices totalling $76,000. He arranged for a further five false invoices totalling $145,106.50 to be raised with Leba Zibara of Zibara Clothing. Those funds were also passed on to players and managers.
Former Parramatta Eels chief executive Scott Seward leaves Downing Centre court in Sydney following his sentencing. Photo: Janie Barrett
"On one occasion the accused passed money on to a player, on all other occasions the money was provided to others to pass onto the player or manager," the statement said.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Chris O'Brien opted not to record a conviction due to the "unique" nature of the case.
"Somewhat unusually, I have determined in this matter to impose a lesser penalty than that suggested by the offender's solicitor," the magistrate said.
Speaking after his original sentencing, Seward said he felt a "sense of relief and feeling of justification" for coming forward.
"I can now walk the streets without having to hide, but being able to look people in the eye and not worry about what they think of me," Seward told The Australian at the time.
"It was an incredibly tough decision to come forward and do what I did, but the decision justifies trying to right the wrongs."
The NRL has turned its attention to the role of player managers, with the agent accreditation committee expected to hand down its findings in coming months. It is understood police are not planning to charge anyone else in relation to the matter.
Parramatta have rebounded from the dramas under a new management team led by chairman Max Donnelly and chief executive Bernie Gurr. After Friday night's win away win against Brisbane, the Eels remain a chance of finishing in the top four.
Replies
Because it wasnt for personal gain i doubt this will get up.
Although I agree with you in principle Snake. I would need to include/insert the word financial between personal and gain in your statement to do so.
He very much stood to gain kudos amongst his peers, corrupt player managers and the buffoons at our club at the time if he had got away with it.
That's still personal gain.
I too doubt he will go to jail but his last judgement was laughable he didn't even have a conviction recorded. I think a fair sentence would be a recorded conviction and possibly a suspended sentence! This joker walked out of court last time feeling vindicated for his actions and that needs to be addressed more appropriately. In any case the result wont be any more lenient than it has been.
To my way of thinking, grinding our community driven club towards privatisation is what was going on behind the shenanigans of Seward, the relentless 2016 media attacks, the way Hayne was mislead by his manager and senior NRL ass-lickers who manipulated and conned Jarryd intro signing with the Titans and all the background undermining and sabotage caused by various Parramatta Eels consortium's in tandem with "known" figureheads seeking power and control over our club.
I don't how "tough it was to try and right the wrongs" as this bloke is quoted as saying?
It is generally translated as "Gave up all his mates when caught to get a lighter sentence himself"! He probably won't go to jail though as he is likely to give up a few more of the establishment (player managers and gullible players and perhaps a few more NRL and club management and board members) this time to reduce the consequences of this appeal.
IMO, anything that reduces the corruption in the game is a good thing. That's why the need to have banking and mobile telephone records more transparent "on demand" rather than for public scrutiny is the only way to ensure Big money men at clubs like the Roosters, Broncos etc are more fearful of getting caught than the temptation to benefit unfairly against their peers.
Rowdy Roddy : I think that the Police appeal indicates that something smelly was achieved to get Seward off without conviction. Recall, he pleaded guilty. The deal would have been along the lines--you keep your mouth shut, plead guilty and you will get off without conviction. I can`t imagine anyone pleading guilty to that charge--there is always the possibility of being found innocent. The view that Seward was a good, innocent citizen who got entrapped in the the Eels quagmire does not ring true either. In his interview with the Integrity Unit, Brad Arthur replied to a question about Seward said: "He was a TC " meaning he was a tough ----. I hope Seward strikes a deal with the Police such as :" I will tell all providing I get minimal penalty."
Patsy, your obsession with the cherub faced Scott Seward is becoming concerning mate. I think it might be sexual :))
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