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Fresh claims of corruption at Auckland Prison have surfaced alleging that staff bribed inmates working in the prison garage to service their cars for a pittance - or sometimes for free.
The Corrections Department is already investigating four Corrections officers at the prison for allegedly using two prisoners to do work on their private homes.
The officers have been suspended over the incident, which occurred during an escorted work outing.
A former prisoner and another source, who did not want to be named, are now alleging improper dealings at the Auckland Prison garage.
Dodgy deals led to staff cars being serviced without proper payment, said the former inmate who was attached to the garage for two years.
He also claimed that deals were done so inmates could have their own cars brought to the garage while prison staff turned a blind eye.
Corrections refused to comment yesterday, but Corrections Minister Damien O'Connor said the latest allegations would be investigated.
"I've said many times that I will not tolerate unethical or inappropriate behaviour by Corrections staff. Any such allegation will be investigated and any officers found guilty will be dismissed and prosecuted," he said.
The former prisoner said at least two of the officers suspended last week had helped run the garage.
"The majority of the work done there was legitimate and most of the vehicles there were Corrections vehicles, but some were private vehicles and they were done for free or for some sort of bribe," the former inmate said.
"It was just a fiasco. Some staff were running scams [for work on their own cars], but prisoners' vehicles were also coming in.
"One inmate, in for drug-dealing, had a Mercedes come in for servicing.
"One officer completely built up a vehicle in the garage, which cost thousands ... from materials he didn't pay for, all supplied by Corrections."
The garage, part of the inmate employment scheme, is used to maintain prison vehicles and by staff to service their vehicles for a fee.
The Corrections code says staff cannot form a financial or business relationship with an offender or use an offender for personal gain.
The claims were backed up by a source close to the prison, who said improper work and cheap rates at the garage were common knowledge.
But they were denied by the police liaison officer at the prison, Constable Garry Learmonth, who had brought his own car to the garage for servicing.
"Anyone who uses the garage, they have to pay. Staff can take their vehicles there and get charged an hourly rate for it.
"They run it like a business. They aren't allowed to make a big profit but they have to cover costs, and they charge accordingly."
He said he would not have used its services if he thought it was corrupt.
Last week's suspensions bring the total number of suspended Corrections staff to 20 - including 11 suspensions at Rimutaka Prison, which is being investigated for corruption.
The National Party has repeatedly called Corrections a shambles.
Parliament's law and order select committee is to decide this week whether to hold an inquiry into the department.
Allegations
* Last week four officers stood down for allegedly using inmates to work on their private homes.
* Fresh allegations that inmates working at the prison garage were bribed to work on staff cars - sometimes for free. Inmates could also arrange for their own vehicles to be brought in for servicing.
* At least two of the suspended officers are alleged to have been involved in running the garage.
* Auckland Prison holds up to 681 prisoners and has a special unit for sex offenders and the country's only maximum-security unit.
