Corruption alleged at Upper Hutt prison
A major police investigation is looking into suspected staff corruption at Rimutaka Prison.
It’s alleged numerous staff smuggled contraband, including drugs, to inmates, laundered money through their bank accounts and forged official documents.
Much of the suspected illicit activity is thought to have been for Mongrel Mob gang members, but there may also be links to organised crime groups offshore. The staff involved were allegedly given money as payment.
National Organised Crime Group manager, Detective Inspector Stuart Mills, confirmed the inquiry had been going since July.
”A large number of interviews have been completed with staff from Rimutaka Prison and the vast majority of these staff members have been co-operative," he said.
“The investigation remains ongoing and no charges have been laid at this stage.” He said an earlier police investigation prompted the inquiry, which also involved Wellington police and Corrections were involved.
Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis said he was aware of the investigation, which related to “alleged offending that began some years ago".
Driven On The Akatarawa Rd Lately?
If so, its good to know you are still alive and reading this.
We have a function to go to over Christmas up that way and having heard a few hairy stories about the road, I went up there on Thursday to check it out. The road's ok, narrow and winding, but not much worse than a Wellington hill suburb. What was pretty scary was the behavior of other drivers. Three vehicles heading the other way at speed would have crashed into me if I hadn't been pulled off the road. I had pulled in to check the address when a truck came flying past, taking up all of the narrow road at speed. There is no way the driver would have been able to stop had they come around the corner immediately in front of me. The other two drivers came hurtling past as I had turned in to turn around and come back down the hill. They were also driving at speed and taking up most of the road. Coming back down I passed another car coming up and estimate that the safe speed to pass another car was about 30-35 kms.p.h. So, now we're thinking, do we go to the function or not.? Feels a bit like we're taking our life in our hands going up there. Drivers appear to be overconfident, and they are courting serious injury.
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