The former financial officer of the Waipareira Charitable Trust in west Auckland, who admitted to fraud, will not be punished for his crimes.
Michael Tolich pleaded guilty to 15 charges of dishonesty between 1998 and 2001 but has been discharged without conviction, because of mental health issues he had at the time.
He forged invoices totalling $190,000 to try to cover up kick-back payments for successful charity grant applications.
"I just want to say one thing, that there is a God that lives in heaven that watches over us all," Tolich said.
In sentencing, Judge Mike Lance said Tolich suffered from Bipolar Disorder, which was the prime cause of his offending.
Lance acknowledged if his condition had been diagnosed the offending would not have taken place.
He said the 55-year-old did not benefit financially.
Tolich was the chief financial officer of the trust when it was headed by former MP John Tamihere.
At sentencing Tolich had huge support from family and friends including several former trust colleagues.
"It's been a very traumatic and emotional time for Mike, when you've got to have your health problems made public - they had a huge affect on what occurred here," his lawyer Gary Gotleib said.
Tolich's family says they are grateful for the support it has received from the trust and he has been told the door is open for him should he want to return.
"Mike has always been so marvellous to me and I just thank god for what's happened today," his mother Valerie Tolich said.
