Former Labor staffer Angela Scarpaci spared jail over printing rorts scandal
Despite lying to the state’s corruption watchdog three times and pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice, a former Labor staffer has avoided jail.
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A former Labor staffer has narrowly avoided jail despite admitting to repeatedly lying to the state’s corruption watchdog.
Angela Scarpaci, 28, was charged following a probe by the Independent Broad-Based Anti Corruption Commission into the printing rorts scandal.
She conspired with former Melton Labor candidate Justin Mammarella, his father Umberto, and former Labor electorate officer Jeffrey O’Donnell about evidence she would give to IBAC, the court heard.
She also admitted lying to IBAC on three separate occasions and pleaded guilty to counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice and perjury.
Today County Court judge Liz Gaynor said such grave offending would usually warrant an immediate jailterm.
But she said she found exceptional circumstances that spared her prison, including Scarpaci’s youth, the fact she had never been in trouble with the law, her strong work ethic and a history of helping underprivliged youth.
Placing her on a two and a half year Community Correction Order, during which she must complete 250 hours of community work, Judge Gaynor said it was clear Scarpaci had nothing to gain from the offending.
Judge Gaynor said Scarpaci had been in a subordinate position to the Mammarellas, and had been desperate to please Justin.
“He made me start to have pride in myself,” Scarpaci said of Justin Mammarella after her arrest.
She suffered crippling anxiety and low self esteem, but was encouraged and praised by Mr Mammarella after she started interning with him at the Melton City Council.
She had joined the ALP at his request, despite having no interest in politics, and had worked tirelessly for him.In 2017 the Herald Sun exposed allegations that parliament was billed for false invoices for printing work that was never done, with the money instead used to pay for ALP branch stacking.
Labor whistle blowers claimed hundreds of thousands of dollars may have been misused in the “cash-for-stacks” scheme.
The allegations sparked an IBAC investigation.
Scarpaci was called to a series of closed-door hearings where she admitted lying to IBAC.
In the lead up to the hearings she spoke with the Mammarellas and Mr O’Donnell about the evidence she would give.
She later gave detailed briefings about her evidence. The conversations were captured on covert telephone intercepts.
Scarpaci lied to IBAC about the use of 713 stamped envelopes addressed to Melton Labor members, falsely claiming the envelopes were meant for a “mail out for Autism Plus”, a controversial disability service provider.
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Instead they were to be used in Justin Mammarella’s bid to be elected to parliament.
Mr O’Donnell has pleaded guilty to similar charges while the Mammarellas are contesting charges and will stand trial next year.
Despite winning the preselection, Justin Mammarella quoted “family reasons” for dropping out last year’s state election ahead of the poll.