Turangi man arrested on corruption charge

A 45 year old Turangi man has been arrested and charged with corruption after allegedly smuggling contraband into Tongariro Rangipo Prison, near Turangi, in 2009.

The man was a Department of Corrections employee at the time of the alleged offences, which took place in October and November 2009. It is understood that he was dismissed from the Department of Corrections following the alleged offences.

The incident was referred to Police by the Department of Corrections in late 2009.

The officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Sergeant Neale Saunders from Turangi Police, says the corruption charge carries a potential prison sentence of up to seven years.

“This is a serious charge, and as such, is required to be signed off by the Solicitor General. We received notification that this had been processed late yesterday, and the man was arrested in Auckland this morning.”

Detective Sergeant Saunders says the man appeared in the Manukau District Court today. He received bail and is to appear in the Taupo District Court on 25 May, 2011.