A former Rangipo prison employee has appeared in court charged with corruption.
The 45-year-old Turangi man is accused of smuggling contraband into the central North Island jail during October and November 2009.
Following an internal investigation, the Corrections Department dismissed the man and referred the case to the police.
Given the seriousness of the charge, the Solicitor-General was required to approve it before the police could arrest the man, which they did on Thursday morning.
He was then granted bail during an appearance in the Manukau District Court and will reappear in the Taupo District Court next month.
The police say the corruption charges carry a potential prison term of up to seven years.