Alex Swney's letter of remorse revealed

Former Heart of City Chief Executive, Alex Swney. Photo / Nick Reed

For the first time, Alex Swney's words of contrition can be read by the public - the people he ripped off for more than $4 million.

The disgraced 58-year-old former Heart of the City boss was jailed for five years and seven months after admitting more than a decade of financial offending, which saw him avoid paying taxes and swindle cash from the organisation he set up by faking 229 invoices.

At Swney's sentencing last week, the court heard he told the probation service he committed the large-scale offending because he felt he was being underpaid for his efforts.

But since charges were laid in April last year, the former mayoral candidate has refused to speak on the record about the situation.

His only comment on the case was contained in a letter to the court.

Judge Grant Fraser has authorised the release of that document, despite opposition from Swney's lawyer Murray Gibson.

"I wish to convey to you the remorse I feel for my actions," Swney wrote.

"I held a position where I was highly regarded by a wide range of Aucklanders. This was a position of privilege and enormous trust.

"I have abused those who placed that trust and in effect all of the citizens of Auckland and wider New Zealand."

Swney's wife and kids were not in court last week but his parents came from rural Waikato for the hearing.

His father Gordon said it was tough to see his son in the dock but was proud of the way he had handled the scrutiny.

Swney also addressed them in his letter to the court.

"They have and will continue to suffer the very public humiliation of their relationship to me where they were completely innocent. The consequences of my actions on them are huge and will be ongoing whilst I am incarcerated," he wrote.

The letter saw him reflect on his own personal fall from grace as well.

"I will be having my 58th birthday in prison. My actions have ruined my career and the public standing I once enjoyed in the community," Swney said.

Mr Gibson attempted to put a kibosh on the release of the document saying there were potentially confidentiality and privacy issues stemming from it.

He called the media attention "a narrow prurient interest" in the case but Judge Fraser was not swayed.

"In this case the offending was against the community at large and a discount was given for the defendant's remorse, thus enhancing the public interest," the judge said.