Murdoch Uni Manager Jailed for Deeply Planned Corruption
So, let me walk you through this story that’s been making headlines around Murdoch University. It’s one of those cases where the deeper you go, the more shocking the details become. A former facilities manager at the university, Dario Pacifici, has been sentenced to two and a half years in jail after being found guilty of funnelling more than $1 million in university work to a company secretly connected to him.
Pacifici joined Murdoch University in March 2021 as the person responsible for overseeing campus facilities. But behind the scenes, a very different operation was unfolding. Staff were instructed by him to start using a company called BM OnDemand Pty Ltd for various maintenance and operational jobs. What they didn’t know at the time was that this company was actually set up by his then-fiancée, now wife, and a close high school friend. Pacifici himself was involved with it, but none of that was ever disclosed.
Over roughly 18 months, BM OnDemand received more than $1.06 million for work done at the campus. This triggered an investigation by the Corruption and Crime Commission, which later revealed serious misconduct. Pacifici wasn’t just bending rules—he was deliberately bypassing the university’s tender process, approving hundreds of invoices, and quietly steering money into a company tied to him personally.
Also Read:When the case finally reached the District Court of Western Australia, Judge Charlotte Wallace didn’t hold back. She described Pacifici’s conduct as “deliberate, strategic, persistent, corrupt behaviour.” She stressed that this wasn’t a momentary lapse in judgment but a long-running, carefully planned scheme built on greed. She pointed out that tender processes exist for transparency and fairness—yet Pacifici chose to sidestep all of it.
What made the situation worse was his ongoing attempt to minimise his actions. According to the court, he tried to justify his behaviour as simply choosing the “most reliable contractor,” but the judge rejected that outright. She reminded him that he was intelligent, fully aware of the policies he was breaking, and had taken active steps to conceal what he was doing.
In total, Pacifici approved many of the 964 invoices that the company sent through. The judge emphasized the broader impact too—saying he had damaged the integrity and reputation of public universities, and undermined the trust people place in institutions like Murdoch University.
By the time of sentencing, Pacifici was visibly emotional. He and his wife have since married and welcomed a child, but the consequences of his actions still stood firm. He will serve 2½ years in prison, with eligibility for parole in March 2027.
It’s a striking reminder of how serious corruption can be—especially when it happens inside places meant to uphold public trust.
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