Another 33 charges have been filed in a major corruption investigation involving North Island prisons, bringing the total to 141 charges against 24 people, including Corrections staff, reintegration officers and people linked to prisoners.
The latest allegations, filed in Auckland District Court on Monday, include bribery and corruption offences serious enough to require the Attorney-General’s consent for prosecution.
The police investigation began at Mt Eden Corrections Facility in July 2025, initially examining allegations that prisoners were organising drug imports and transactions from behind bars, before investigators identified staff allegedly accepting cash to smuggle mobile phones, drugs, tobacco and other contraband into the prison.
State-funded media say police allege the illicit phones enabled inmates to continue coordinating drug distribution operations. The inquiry later expanded to Auckland South Correctional Facility at Wiri, where reintegration officers employed by private prison operator Serco are accused of similar conduct, including bringing controlled drugs and tobacco into the facility for payment.
Other allegations include conspiracies to sell cannabis and supply methamphetamine to Mt Eden prisoners. All 24 defendants currently have interim name suppression, with the issue due to be considered in October and a case review scheduled for December.
Image credit: Wesley Tingey
Have they been sacked?
Or are they going to be protected the same way they protect Jacinda?
A fish rots from its bald, unpopular, fraudulant head!
33 charges. Hmmm, sounds a bit masonic to me. They love that number.
Customary rights?🥳
There it is again “required the Attorney-General’s consent for prosecution”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attorney-General_(New_Zealand)
So the Corporation requires the Crown’s consent to prosecute their own employees.
Is this also the case with the so called “Independant” Police Conduct Authority (IPCA).