Prison guard in court on smuggling charges

A prison guard charged with smuggling drugs to Mongrel Mob inmates is one of 38 corrections staff sacked in the past three years.

Manu Stanley Jensen, 45, was arrested in Auckland yesterday and appeared in the Manukau District Court charged with corruption after allegedly smuggling contraband into Tongariro Rangipo Prison, near Turangi.

The Herald revealed last year that Jensen lost his job in 2009 after he was allegedly caught supplying cannabis to the "Cedar One" unit after being bribed by gang associates.

The officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Sergeant Neale Saunders, said the corruption charge carried a prison term of up to seven years.

"This is a serious charge, and as such, is required to be signed off by the Solicitor-General."

Jensen was remanded in custody to appear in the Taupo District Court on May 4.

Corrections Department chief executive Ray Smith said the prison officer was dismissed in December 2009.

He said Corrections then referred the matter to police and worked closely with them on the investigation.

"We employ around 8000 staff, we set very high standards for our staff and the vast majority of them approach their role with professionalism and integrity. When these high standards are called into question, it is highly disappointing."

Jensen is one of 38 corrections staff dismissed over the past three years.

Nine were from Rimutaka Prison after an inquiry into corruption three years ago. One was a female guard stood down for allegedly having an affair with a violent criminal.

Three Auckland prison guards were last year caught smuggling drugs, a cellphone and tobacco to inmates.

Diaz Henry Minisita, Halo Tavana and Alan Na'a all pleaded guilty to various charges and have since lost their jobs at Auckland Central Remand Prison and Mt Eden Prison.

Minisita was convicted of two charges of smuggling tobacco and one of unlawfully possessing a sawn-off .22 rifle.

Tavana pleaded guilty to six charges of smuggling drugs wrapped in tape, tobacco, an icecream container of food and a cellphone for inmates.

Na'a brought in drug parcels wrapped in plastic, a cell phone for a King Cobra gang leader and a Chinese takeaway meal for another prisoner.

The Weekend Herald revealed in September 2009 that murderer Dennis Fitchett was fixing motorcycles and cars owned by Mt Eden prison guards free of charge.

An internal inquiry found four staff members or their family members had free work done on vehicles.