JAIL OFFICER TRIED TO BRING IN DRUGS

A PRISON officer agreed to smuggle drugs and a phone into a
maximum-security jail for Victorian criminal Brett Maston, a court heard
yesterday.

Maston, once Australia's most wanted man who is serving a 14-year jail
term, offered the officer a substantial sum of money to bring the drugs in,
the West Australian District Court was told.

Hemi Ewene Lewis, 53, a prison officer for 11 years, admitted it was an act
of lunacy to go along with Maston.

Lewis pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis, methylamphetammes and
methadone, and attempting to bring a mobile phone and Serepax and temazepam
tablets into Perth's Hakea prison.

Former Hakea inmate Chad James pleaded guilty to supplying the drugs.

The two were remanded in custody by Chief Judge Kevin Hammond for
sentencing next week.

Prosecutor Heidi Ward said Lewis had a box containing the drugs and mobile
phone when stopped by detectives outside the jail last November 1.

Ms Ward said Maston had promised Lewis a substantial amount of money for
smuggling the package in but he was never paid.

Defence lawyer Max Crispe said Lewis was separated from his wife of 31
years at the time.

Mr Crispe said Lewis was depressed and having financial problems when
approached by Maston.

"He (Lewis) doesn't know why he did it," he said. "It was a single act of
lunacy he deeply regrets.

"He's sorry for the embarrassment he brings on the prison system. What's
happened is he's succumbed to temptation."

Lewis has since reconciled with his wife.

Ms Ward said Lewis should be given a long jail term because he had grossly
breached his position of trust and undermined the justice system.

Maston, 35, from Sunshine, became Australia's most wanted man in 1995 when
he escaped from Fremantle Hospital after his girlfriend, Christine Evagora,
threatened prison guards with a shotgun.

The couple spent four months on the run.