Unapproved computer in prison

Michael Swann
Michael Swann
Convicted fraudster Michael Swann is appearing before the New Zealand Parole Board this week, four years after he was imprisoned for defrauding the Otago District Health Board of almost $17 million.

Swann was sentenced in the High Court, at Dunedin, in March 2009, to nine and a-half years' jail for defrauding the board of $16,902,000.

He was expected to appear before the board at an undisclosed location this week. A request by the Otago Daily Times to appear at that hearing was declined because it was unable to be processed in time.

While at the Otago Corrections Facility, Swann was involved in an incident which sparked a review by the Department of Corrections.

The department found correct procedures were not followed after a computer was delivered to a workplace at the Milburn facility where Swann was based.

A report released under the Official Information Act shows a computer was put in the Corrections Inmate Employment (CIE) workplace at Milburn on March 11, 2011.

That sparked a departmental investigation into the incident, after it was discovered correct protocol was not carried out.

A computer, monitor, printer and associated hardware was later returned to the owner, who was an approved visitor of Swann.

The department's report stated an unnamed man, who was recognised as an approved visitor of Swann, arrived at the reception area of the prison with the intent of visiting the engineering workshop.

''It was then discovered that he was at the prison to help set up a computer he had donated to the engineering workshop at the prison (where prisoner Swann worked) for training purposes,'' the report noted.

The computer was later taken to a computer firm. A search of its hard-drive revealed no unauthorised material.

In an interview with prison officials, Swann said his approved visitor had offered a computer to the prison engineering workshop for the instructors and prisoners to use.

Swann had given his approved visitor's contact details to an engineering instructor, and later arrangements were made to deliver the computer.

''The general findings into the incident were that there is no evidence that appropriate approval was sought to bring the computer into the CIE workshop.''

- hamish.mcneilly@odt.co.nz

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