A top New Zealand sports administrator whose character reference for disgraced broadcaster Tony Veitch was altered before being presented in court says he will not be making an official complaint.
Olympic chef de mission Dave Currie and squash champion Dame Susan Devoy provided testimonials to Veitch, believing they would be used in an application to get his passport back and not as a character reference when he appeared in Auckland District Court for attacking his former girlfriend.
Veitch pleaded guilty last week to assaulting Kristin Dunne-Powell with reckless disregard for her safety. Six other charges of assault were dismissed when the Crown offered no evidence.
He was fined $10,000, ordered to do 300 hours community work, and placed on supervision for nine months.
During sentencing Judge Jan Doogue said the 20 testimonials Veitch produced played a part in her sentencing decision.
The court file showed paragraphs referring to the passport were removed from both references.
Police have said they would not investigate the alterations unless an official complaint was made.
Mr Currie told NZPA today that he would not be making a formal complaint.
"The police have the information and if they wanted to do something they would -- so I'll leave it ... the information is in the public arena and either they think it's serious enough or not," he said.
"I've made all the comments I've needed to make ... I don't think it's helpful to continue to carry it on." Dame Susan said she was "over it all" and "not in a position to say" if she would lay a complaint.
Police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said yesterday police had sought legal advice and would not be taking any action "at this point".
"If there was to be a formal complaint received from any of the letters' authors, police would reassess that decision," she told The New Zealand Herald.
Charges were laid against Veitch after a heated argument at his home in Herne Bay, Auckland, early in 2006.
During the argument Veitch kicked Ms Dunne-Powell in the back, breaking bones and confining her to a wheelchair and crutches for several weeks. She also had to quit her job.
Veitch paid her nearly $170,000 in compensation for lost income, medical and other expenses.
