KEY POINTS:
Former All Black Doug Rollerson was today convicted but freed without penalty for his part in an elaborate scam which cheated sport organisations out of charity money.
He earlier pleaded guilty to two charges following a Serious Fraud Office probe into the misappropriation of gaming money.
Appearing for sentence in the High Court at Auckland today, Rollerson was told by Justice Rhys Harrison that he was "emotionally and financially destitute".
There was no point in imposing a fine or court costs.
The judge added that Rollerson did not make any financial gain from his dealings.
Outside the court Rollerson said he was disappointed with the outcome.
The SFO said Rollerson, then chief executive of the North Harbour Rugby Football Union (NHRFU), had been part of a scheme which also allegedly included former Kiwi rugby league internationals Brent Todd and Hugh McGahan along with four other people.
Rollerson originally faced charges alleging two counts of conspiring to defraud and one alleging intent to deceive.
His lawyer John Haigh QC told the Herald this afternoon: "Mr Rollerson always intended to defend those charges given the allegations of fraud contained in those charges.
"Acting on behalf of Mr Rollerson I persuaded the SFO to amend the charges to lesser offences which recognised that whilst not being guilty of fraud he was guilty of the two Counts under the Secret Commissions Act 1910."
One of Rollerson's charges related to presenting false invoices which were a mechanism for business partners Todd and Wijeyaratne, who operated pubs in Auckland, to receive kickbacks from the grant of gaming funds.
Another charge was that he presented books of account to the board of Team Harbour Ltd, the commercial arm of the NHRFU, which he knew were likely to mislead the board in relation to three cheques worth a total of $53,240.63.
Todd last year admitted four fraud charges, as did co-accused Stanley Malik Champalal Wijeyaratne.
Todd, who was declared bankrupt in February last year, was given 12 months' home detention and 190 hours of community work when he was sentenced last year. He had already paid back $300,000.
Wijeyaratne was fined $50,000 and told to make $400,000 reparations.
McGahan, Alistair Arnott, Geoffrey Thompson and a woman with name suppression have denied charges and will defend them at a six-week trial in Auckland District Court beginning in July.
Rollerson, a first five-eighth and fullback from Manawatu played eight tests and 16 matches for the All Blacks between 1976 and 1981.
- NZPA, NZHERALD STAFF
