Jail likely for former Loddon Prison officer on bribery, misconduct charges

Lyndon Turvey, 52, appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Friday, having pleaded guilty to one charge of bribery and one charge of misconduct.

The Aboriginal welfare officer received 13 cash deposits amounting to $10,230 in his bank account from the partner of a prisoner in 2016 and 2017.

The parents of another prisoner sent Turvey eight payments totalling $7500 through Australia Post money orders.

These money orders were cashed out and deposited by Turvey.

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Notes addressed from to the accused were found in a raid on Turvey's home conducted by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission, as was a photograph on his phone showing a note from the parents.

Investigators also monitored a phone call between Turvey and the parents, in which he said he was calling on behalf of the prisoner to meet up and collect money

The prisoner's mother later gave evidence to IBAC that the association was organised through her son - possibly for buying cigarettes, although it was not fully explained to her - and she did not know Turvey was a Corrections Victoria employee.

Turvey also received $1400 in cash from the mother and sister of another prisoner.

In a phone call with the mother, he said he did not want the money deposited in his account because it was traceable.

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Later he arranged with the daughter to meet at Gisborne to collect the $1400 and contraband.

The former partner of a fourth prisoner made six payments amounting to $8400 to Turvey.

Investigators again found an express post envelope containing the details of the partner in Turvey's possession, records of money orders paid by the partner, and evidence Turvey had cashed out or deposited the orders.

The partner told IBAC there were various arrangements for people to deposit money into her account, and for her to deposit money into other accounts.

She said she also posted an unknown amount of money to Turvey.

The court heard Turvey participated in the introduction of contraband tobacco, lighters, cigarettes and papers into the prison.

He told a psychologist he bought the contraband and he left it in certain locations, knowing it was then to be picked up and taken into the prison by others.

Acting for prosecuting agency IBAC, Tom Warne-Smith said a term of imprisonment was the only suitable sentence for Turvey, one of a length that excluded the addition of a community corrections order.

He raised similar prior cases, including one this year in which a Corrections officer whose offending was not as extensive was sentenced to six months' imprisonment.

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Mr Warne-Smith said Turvey's offending damaged public trust.

Defence lawyer Markorius Habib said his client was remorseful and had good prospects of rehabilitation, submitting this should be a strong sentencing consideration.

Mr Habib sought a non-custodial sentence, but said if magistrate Michael King were to consider imprisonment, he impose a definite date of release followed by a corrections order.

Turvey's imprisonment would be of detriment to others in his family, he said, including his parents and children.

Mr Habib said his client would suffer greater hardship in prison than others because of his former role as a prison employee and his Aboriginality.

Magistrate Dr King adjourned sentencing to June.

He ordered Turvey be assessed for a community corrections order, but said he was "still in two minds" about that possibility and warned Turvey he would likely spend time in custody.

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