6 Nov 2017

Former Mt Eden guard guilty of corruption

12:01 pm on 6 November 2017

A former Auckland prison guard has pleaded guilty to three charges of corruption for smuggling cellphones and cigarettes into Mt Eden prison.

Mt Eden Prison.

Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski

Farani Junior Fa'apoi appeared at the High Court in Auckland today.

His offences took place in May 2015 while he was employed by Serco serving as a gateway between inmates and contacts on the outside. Serco's contract at Mt Eden ended in March, after an investigation into reports of "fight clubs".

Fa'apoi pleaded guilty to two charges of corruption for smuggling in cellphones and another charge for bringing in cigarettes.

Justice Venning granted Fa'apoi bail and he will be sentenced in December.

Two others charged with bribery and corruption will be sentenced later this month.