Dario Norman Pacifici: Murdoch University manager who funnelled more than $1m to wife’s business admits crimes

A Murdoch University facilities manager who funnelled more than $1 million worth of work to a company set up by his wife and his close friend has pleaded guilty to criminal offences after damning findings by the corruption watchdog. Dario Norman Pacifici was sacked in 2022 after the university was tipped off to his undeclared conflicts of interest with the directors of building maintenance contractor BM OnDemand. A subsequent Corruption and Crime Commission investigation uncovered the 49-year-old had concealed from Murdoch that his wife, Joshna Shrestha, and high school friend Nathan Hodder were the directors of BM OnDemand. Pacifici personally approved payment for many of the 964 invoices sent to the university by BM OnDemand over one year, the CCC said in its 2024 report. The CCC found Pacifici’s conduct went beyond a conflict of interest and had taken advantage of the trust vested in him. The CCC formed an opinion that his actions amounted to serious misconduct. On Tuesday, Pacifici pleaded guilty in Perth Magistrates Court to 13 counts of acting in a matter in which he had a pecuniary interest while a public officer. Pre-sentence and psychological reports were ordered ahead of sentencing on June 6. Pacifici was Murdoch’s manager of facilities and maintenance for about 18 months before the scheme unravelled.