Dean Heywood, a former Serco officer, has been sentenced to 2 years and 6 months jail for one offence of abuse of public office, contrary to s 142.2(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth), for his role in assisting a detainee in a Melbourne immigration detention centre to access drugs in exchange for payments totalling $11,150.
From November 2021 to February 2022, Mr Heywood and a detainee exchanged more than 1,800 messages discussing and arranging the purchase and supply of methamphetamines, cannabis and other contraband into the detention centre.
Mr Heywood made several attempts to deliver the drugs and contraband to the detainee in person, with mixed success. Alternate plans were extensively discussed including throwing the items over a fence, using a drone, or sending them by mail or courier.
The significant and ongoing communications between Mr Heywood and the detainee demonstrated a serious breach of public trust afforded to Commonwealth public officials in performing their official duties.
Following a guilty plea in March 2024, the County Court of Victoria convicted Heywood on 6 September 2024. Heywood will be eligible for release after 6 months.
This sentencing outcome stems from Operation Meda, a joint investigation commenced by the former Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (ACLEI) and the Department of Home Affairs, which transitioned to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and was prosecuted by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) (CDPP).
This is the fifth conviction obtained in matters continued by the NACC since 1 July 2023.