Prison officer suspected of inmate affair

Wellington's Rimutaka Prison is in the spotlight again, this time with a prison officer suspended on full pay, accused of having an affair with a violent criminal.

Sources told The Dominion Post the female officer was suspended about two weeks ago after allegations of a liaison with a prisoner, which included spending hours alone with him in a cell and smuggling him a mobile phone.

They said the prisoner, whose crimes were understood to include a brutal bashing, was transferred to another prison months ago because of concerns about the relationship, although the Corrections Department has denied this.

The suspension comes only two months after a police operation led to the arrest of senior prison manager Jeffrey Reid for allegedly dealing in drugs to inmates at Rimutaka. He is due back in court this week.

Acting southern assistant regional manager Bronwyn Donaldson confirmed that an officer from the prison had been suspended and an investigation had begun after allegations of serious misconduct.

Sexual and financial relationships with prisoners come under that heading in the department's code of conduct.

Corrections Minister Judith Collins said she was aware of "serious allegations" about staff at the prison.

Ms Donaldson said four other members of the prison's 440 staff were currently suspended because of a "range of allegations".

Late in 2006, Corrections ordered an independent investigation into Rimutaka Prison, which concluded there was no systemic corruption.

It followed complaints that a group of guards known as "the bro club" was smuggling in drugs, phones and food for prisoners. During the investigation 11 guards were suspended.

- NZPA