'Model inmate' caught smuggling cannabis

A man hailed as a "model prisoner" has been caught smuggling drugs into jail.

Teddy Austral, who was due for release within a few days, was found with cannabis after returning to Darwin prison from a day's community work.

Correctional Services have told police.

But a source said: "They are trying to play down the seriousness of it.

"They say he's a good bloke and he's done his rehabilitation program.

"They don't want the embarrassment of taking him to court."

The Northern Territory News has been unable to determine the weight of the drugs.

Correctional Services said it was a "small amount".

But a source said: "Everybody else says it was a fair bit."

The drugs were found when Austral was searched after returning to prison.

Corrections director Jens Tolstrup said: "It is important to note that our security measures did work.

"Searches for drugs are carried out regularly on those who leave the centre for any reason, including working party duties.

"There are also random searches conducted.

"In this instance, the substance was located before the prisoner involved had re-entered the main prison area.

"You can rest assured we are treating this incident as serious -- that is why it is in the hands of the police."

Austral has been offered a job when he gets out by Darwin businessman John Christophersen, who runs a coastal line-fishing boat.

"We've come up with an acronym for the business -- GOYA -- which stands for Get Off Your Arse enterprises," Mr Christophersen said.

"If people like Teddy have a good work ethic and they want to do something with their lives, we'll train them up to be a deckhand.

"They can then move on and chase the big money with the bigger boats."

Austral said he was "rapt" about getting the job offer.

"I'm keen to have a go and it shows other young fellas in jail that they don't have to go back to their old ways of drinking and smoking bongs when they get out," he said.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: 14th December 2004
Source: Northern Territory News
Author: Nigel Adlam
Website: http://www.ntnews.com.au
Email: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Copyright: 2004 Northern Territory News