Waipareira Trust executive escapes forgery conviction

A former Waipareira Trust chief financial officer has been discharged without conviction after admitting 15 charges of forging invoices totalling $190,000.

Michael Tolich, 55, admitted the charges in Auckland District Court on June 30, which related to offending between 1998 and 2001.

But at sentencing yesterday, Judge Mike Lance said the main cause of Tolich's offending was his bipolar disorder. Tolich gained no monetary benefit from his offending, the judge said.

Tolich's lawyer Gary Gotlieb said outside the court that the decision was a fair one.

He said community service might have been in order if bipolar disorder was not a factor.

"His bipolar disorder wasn't diagnosed until after his offending, and this is despite his visiting several medical specialists while this was happening," Mr Gotlieb said.

"He is now on medication and everything is fine with him now."

The prosecution arose from several investigations, which uncovered false invoices issued by the trust.

Former Cabinet minister John Tamihere, who was trust chief executive until late 1999, was cleared of wrongdoing.

However, he lost his seat in Cabinet while the investigations took place and never regained the position.

Last year Mr Tamihere also lost his seat in Parliament to Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples, but was elected back on to the trust board.

Some members tried to block him, but he was taken back following court action and in April was appointed the trust's executive trustee following the removal of then-chief executive Reg Ratahi.

- NZPA