Prison guard probed over alleged inmate affair

An alleged tryst between a female guard and a drug boss is being probed after love letters and women’s undies were allegedly found in the notorious inmate’s cell.

A prison guard is being investigated over an illicit relationship with a drug boss inside Melbourne’s Metropolitan Remand Centre. Picture: Ian Currie

A prison guard is being investigated over an illicit relationship with a drug boss inside one of the state’s maximum security jails.

The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal a female officer, who is currently suspended, has been questioned over her interactions with convicted drug trafficker and long-term prisoner, Wedi Bembo.

The alleged incidents are understood to have occurred in an isolation area of Metropolitan Remand Centre before it was uncovered last month.

Corrections Victoria management was alerted to the guard’s activities after footage emerged between the guard and Bembo.

The Sunday Herald Sun understands a love letter and item of clothing, believed to be underwear, was located inside Bembo’s cell.

Neither had been processed through the highly regulated prison mail system.

A prison source said: “He would make excuses to only talk to her at the officers’ post and ask for help to fill out forms with her assistance to spend whatever time with her he could”.

Bembo, known to be a persuasive prisoner, came under investigation himself in 2019 over a daring escape plot involving two other prisoners.

The trio used cutlery to dig through bricks and had breached an internal wall at Port Phillip Prison when authorities discovered their scheme.

There is no suggestion the guard at the centre of the current inquiry has had any role in the attempted escape plan.

It is believed Bembo was moved quickly to Barwon Prison following the launch of the current investigation.

A Department of Justice and Community Safety Victoria spokesperson confirmed an inquiry was underway.

“All Corrections Victoria staff are expected to uphold the highest levels of professionalism and ethics, and they are provided with comprehensive training and education to ensure they are aware of expectations,’’ a spokesperson said.

“A staff member at the Metropolitan Remand Centre has been suspended pending an investigation of alleged misconduct.

“It would be inappropriate for the department to comment further while the investigation is ongoing.’’

All staff working for Corrections Victoria are subject to the Victorian public sector code of conduct.

Action is taken when allegations are substantiated, with staff facing dismissal, performance management, counselling, formal warnings, demotion and transfer depending on the misconduct.

A source has told the Sunday Herald Sun Bembo has previously been investigated over another allegation involving a plot involving a female prison officer.

Bembo is serving a 25-year jail term over drug importations, which date back to 2013.

He was arrested in 2016 as part of a syndicate which attempted to smuggle 125kg of pure meth in Melbourne.

The illicit $125 million haul, intercepted by the Australian Federal Police, was hidden in timber logs imported from Nigeria to Australia.

By the time the drugs were being moved to a pick up point in Sunshine, the AFP had replaced the methamphetamine with a harmless substitute

Bembo, described as playing a central role, left a trail of evidence via phone calls, text messages and his movements.

He had even organised a test run prior to organising the major shipment.

At the time of his arrest he was on bail over another major drug trafficking operation involving heroin.

Co-offenders involved in some of his activities were facing execution in China.