A 51-year-old male has been arrested by police over a listening device that was found inside the Sydney hotel room used by the All Blacks.
The man, identified as Adrian Gard who works for BGI Security, has been charged with 'public mischief' and has been released on bail. He will face court in March.
According to ABC News, at the time, the suspect was a security consultant for the company contracted by the All Blacks while they were in Sydney.
"A man has been charged after a listening device was located in a room at a hotel in Sydney's east last year," said a statement from New South Wales Police.
Gard has previously been employed to protect high-profile convicted drug runner Schapelle Corby from the media in Indonesia. He has also undertaken security work for Paris Hilton.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen says the charge seems "bizarre and unbelievable".
"It's very hard to understand," he said in a statement.
"The charged man has worked for the All Blacks, and many other organisations, for a long time and is someone who is trusted and well respected by us."
The 51-year-old has been charged with public mischief and will appear in Waverley Local Court on March 21.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Australian Rugby Union's boss Bill Pulver was thankful said they were relieved that the culprit was found and they were stripped of any wrongdoing.
"On behalf of the ARU, I commend the NSW Police for their ongoing pursuit of this matter and for providing closure with a charge being laid against an individual today", said Pulver.
"The ARU and the Wallabies were never accused of any wrongdoing, however it was still important that this matter reached a conclusion to provide complete reassurance to all fans that the organisation and the team had no part in any of this.
"The aspect that still leaves a bitter taste out of this whole affair is that the discovery of the device was reported publicly on game day, when it is understood that the alleged discovery of the device occurred much earlier in the week leading up to the Test match."
Newshub.
