Vaughan Vati Teleni Hunt allegedly made $12,000 smuggling drugs
He was employed to guard prison inmates at one of Sydney’s biggest jails. But Vaughan Vati Teleni Hunt may soon find himself locked up alongside them. FIND OUT WHY
NSW
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A prison guard allegedly smuggled drugs, mobile phones and steroids into a Sydney jail for inmates because his gambling addiction had left him cash poor.
According to court documents, Vaughan Vati Teleni Hunt allegedly made about $12,000 accepting contraband packages from inmates’ families and smuggling them into Long Bay jail over three months this year.
The 27-year-old was charged last month after Corrective Services NSW received a tip-off that he was on the take and talking to an inmate on a contraband mobile phone.
On August 8, prison authorities raided the cell of Jesse Fale Auelua in wing 12 at Long Bay Correctional Centre and found an iPhone hidden in the S-bend of the toilet.
When officers looked through the phone records, they discovered Auelua had allegedly been in direct contact with Hunt.
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According to court documents, filed at Waverley Local Court, there was also four grams of methamphetamine, known as the drug ice, 67.9 grams of steroids and 33 grams of tobacco hidden in the cell.
Hunt, who worked as a prison officer at Silverwater jail before landing a full-time position at Long Bay in 2016, was arrested soon afterwards.
The flow of contraband and availability of drugs inside prison has been an ongoing challenge for authorities.
While there have been dozens of examples of family members sneaking phones or tiny packages of drugs to inmates during jail visits, there has been examples of prison guards doing the same.
Corrective Services Investigation Unit commander Detective Inspector Robert Hollows said police were sending a strong message that corruption would be targeted.
“And that it has been reduced due to several successful prosecutions and investigations carried out by the unit,” he said.
According to court documents, Hunt told police he only agreed to smuggle in the contraband because was desperate for cash.
He needed money because he had thrown most of his income away gambling at local pubs and online gaming sites, according to court documents.
After police arrested Hunt and presented the allegations, he confirmed he’d been approached by four inmates and asked if he wanted to make extra cash.
Police allege he was provided with the contact numbers of inmates’ relatives and met them at least 13 different locations to take 45 unknown packages.
Police allege those packages contained drugs, tobacco and mobile phones.
Hunt allegedly made $12,000 from the smuggling racket.
Most of it he gambled and some money he deposited into his personal bank account, court documents state.
Hunt appeared in Waverley Local Court on Wednesday, charged with three offences, including public office misconduct.
His lawyer Fadi Abbas indicated Hunt would plead guilty.
“He is in the process of addressing his gambling issues and the matter will be resolved on the next occasion,” he said outside court.
The case was adjourned to February 26.