Prison boss allegedly paid off debts to inmates on behalf of jailed son
Explosive allegations have surfaced against a Melbourne prison boss, facing an internal investigation over claims she paid off debts to caged criminals on behalf of her jailed son.
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The state’s anti-corruption watchdog has been alerted to allegations a Melbourne prison boss paid off inmates on behalf of her jailed son.
Kelly Bodsworth, workforce development manager at Metropolitan Remand Centre, is being investigated by the state’s justice department over claims she was paying off debts to prisoners at Ravenhall Correctional Centre.
The alleged debts were held against her son, who is imprisoned at Ravenhall.
The explosive claims were contained in an intelligence report filed from within the prison earlier this year.
The alleged payments were said to be significant and paid to more than one caged criminal.
A prison source told the Herald Sun she feared for her son’s safety.
“They threatened if he didn’t pay he was in trouble,” said the source.
It is understood Ms Bodsworth was banned from attending the prison when the allegations first surfaced.
The ban has since been overturned.
The Herald Sun has been told a high-ranking boss at Ravenhall was allegedly called upon to facilitate the payments.
The claim was contained in the prison intelligence report, which forms part of the justice department investigation.
However the department has so far taken no action against Ms Bodsworth and now the independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission has been called in to examine the claims.
The Herald Sun is not suggesting the allegations are true, only that they are being investigated.
Asked about the allegations, a Department of Justice and Community Safety spokeswoman said all staff are expected to “uphold the highest level of professionalism and ethics”.
“When they fail to meet those standards, they are investigated and face sanctions,” she said.
“The integrity of Victoria’s corrections system is of the highest priority and matters are referred to external authorities when appropriate.”
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Ms Bodsworth oversees the hiring and promotion of staff within the prison system.
Claims she made payments to inmates, if substantiated, put her in breach of the Commissioner’s Requirements for Conduct and Ethics.
All staff are required to report “conduct which indicates a blurring of professional boundaries” with prisoners or any other contact or association with inmates, which include the transaction of “gifts”, under the requirements.
An IBAC spokewosman refused to confirm if the complaint would be investigated.
“For legal and operational reasons, we are not able to comment on this matter,” said the spokesman.