NAAJA employee Samantha Alampi ‘obstructed’ police during hotel-room tryst arrest

The parole officer allegedly found in a hotel bed with her young offender parolee is facing additional charges, accused of ‘obstructing’ two police officers during her middle of the night arrest.

20-year-old Jefferson Woodie and Samantha Alampi. Ms Alampi is a NAAJA senior parole officer, and has allegedly been caught assisting Mr Woodie, whose bail was revoked November 9.

A North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency parole officer ­allegedly found in a hotel bed with a young offender parolee is facing additional charges, accused of obstructing two police officers during her arrest.

Samantha Alampi, a senior ­officer at the nation’s beleaguered Aboriginal legal service, was allegedly found in an Alice Springs hotel room with manslaughter offender Jefferson Woodie during a police raid. Police had been hunting for Woodie, 20, after he had allegedly removed his electronic ankle bracelet just months after getting out of jail.

CCTV footage of Samantha Alampi checking into the Diplomat Hotel in Alice Springs.

Woodie photographed in 2023 while participating in young offenders program. Picture: Charmayne Allison - ABC

Ms Alampi had her bail conditions varied on Wednesday but she did not enter a plea.

The Australian understands that it will be alleged in court the NAAJA officer laid a bizarre trail to the Mercure Resort in Alice Springs, as she tried to help Woodie escape a long second sentence for breaking his parole conditions.

Sources say the police had been warned about Woodie and Ms Alampi’s relationship and found the NAAJA employee picking up his personal belongings from a Salvation Army hostel where he had been residing while on parole.

She claimed she was taking them to the legal service’s ­offices for safekeeping until he was found by authorities.

Ms Alampi’s arrest is the latest scandal for NAAJA, which has been under pressure over claims of corruption, the hiring of a man arrested over domestic violence, and an exodus of staff that resulted in vulnerable Aboriginal defendants being forced to represent themselves in court.