Senior public servant Paul Andrew Robinson jailed for corrupt $297,000 prison tender scheme
He thought revamped prison cells were his ticket to a financial empire – instead, this former corrections boss will serve time inside one for his corruption.
Paul Andrew Robinson built his reputation on caring – about the welfare of prisoners, about their rehabilitation, and about what was best for the Department for Correctional Services.
By his career’s end, however, all the senior public servant cared about was the financial empire he sought to build through the misuse of his position, power and influence.
On Thursday, Robinson hung his head as the District Court told him he would spend at least the next 28 months behind the bars of the very prison cells at the centre of his corrupt scheme.
Judge Ian White said Robinson’s $297,000 rort of taxpayers warranted no less than immediate jail – despite the threat that posed to his safety.
“You totally abandoned your duties as a public servant in favour of your business life … your desire to build an empire had well and truly dominated your mind,” he said.
“I find your offending was too prolonged and too serious, given your position and the need to deter others, and your sentence must be served immediately in custody.”
Robinson, 46, of Seaton, pleaded guilty to three counts of abuse of public office.
He used his insider knowledge to mastermind a rort of the 2018/2019 Yatala Labour Prison redevelopment tender process and net himself $297,000.
Since pleading guilty, Robinson has sought to blame Matthew Laurie Patzel, a Mount Gambier plasterer and his former co-accused, for the fraud – despite his charges having been dropped.
Prosecutors urged the court to reject that stance, saying Robinson’s “very ambitious masterplan” was “all about greed”.
In sentencing on Thursday, Judge White agreed, saying Robinson’s offending began “about the time” the Department rejected his request for a “$20,000 additional duties allowance”.
“Your motivations for these crimes was for personal gain and greed,” he said.
“It may have coincided with the former focus you were so well known for on the rehabilitation of prisoners but, in the end, your conversations with Mr Patzel were about your business relationship with him.
“These conversations with him really do reveal your true state of mind and motive for personal gain, and not for the betterment of the department nor prisoners.”
Judge White rejected attempts to blame Mr Patzel, saying the plasterer “had no power” beyond what Robinson gave him, and said his fate “is not relevant to you”.
He jailed Robinson for four years and five months with a 28-month non-parole period, and ordered he pay the Department $150,000 restitution.
The court heard that amount would be sourced from Robinson’s parents.
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Originally published as Senior public servant Paul Andrew Robinson jailed for corrupt $297,000 prison tender scheme
