On arrival with his police escort at Auckland Airport tomorrow morning Phillip Smith will be met by other police staff and complete customs and immigration formalities.
Police will then transport him immediately to the Auckland Prison where he will be handed into the custody of the Department of Corrections.
The police investigation into Smith is ongoing and a decision will be made in due course about what further charges he may face.
At this stage police are unable to be more specific on possible charges, or timeframes when they will be laid. It is likely however that they will include a charge of escape from lawful custody (S120 Crimes Act 1961).
A court appearance will be scheduled once further charges have been laid.
It is not expected that Smith will appear in court tomorrow.
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Media please note:
(i) Deputy Commissioner (Operations) Mike Clement and Jeanette Burns, Regional Commissioner, Northern Region, Department of Corrections, will be available to talk to media outside Auckland Prison (Paremoremo) once Smith has been returned to prison.
It is anticipated that this stand-up will occur at 0700. It is however dependant on the flight arriving as scheduled, plus processing times at the airport and prison.
(ii) Processing of Smith at Auckland Airport will take place airside and he will not be taken through public areas at the airport.
(iii) We will not be confirming the arrival of any flights in the early hours of the morning.