Google chief gives evidence at fraud trial of Ozy Media founder

Co-founder of Ozy Media, Carlos Watson arrives at Brooklyn Federal Court, for an earlier hearing (Adam Gray/AP)

Google chief executive Sundar Pichai gave evidence on Friday at the federal financial conspiracy trial surrounding startup Ozy Media, countering founder Carlos Watson’s alleged claims that the search giant once sought to buy Ozy.

Google did consider hiring Watson for a high-level news executive job in 2021 and putting $25m into Ozy in something of a trade-off for luring him away, Mr Pichai told jurors.