Sam Adrian Mourant, 34, is also accused of wilful misconduct by failing to report that an inmate at Les Nicolles was in possession of a telephone and further by communicating directly with that telephone, which amounted to an abuse of public trust. He is alleged to have committed the offences between 2 October and 22 December last year.
No pleas were entered. The case will be committed to the Royal Court in December and he was bailed until then with a condition that he does not leave or attempt to leave the island.
Last December the prison authorities confirmed to the Guernsey Press after questions were asked that an officer had been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a controlled substance, and told to stay away from work.
The prison was already involved in controversy at that point, which was exacerbated by the death of a prisoner in his cell, and then the decision of Prison Governor John De Carteret to step aside in April, as an investigation was launched into allegations about his conduct. He later announced his retirement from the position.
Home Affairs Committee president Deputy Marc Leadbeater has said his committee would be open to an independent review of the prison once any lessons to learn had been identified following reviews into two deaths in custody in the past year.
The committee has since confirmed that it was in favour of an independent review and that one would be carried out by June next year. The prison is yet to publish its 2025 annual report.