Prison term ends Minniti police dream

Corrupt panel beater Pasquale Minniti, who loved to big-note himself because of his police connections and even called himself “Inspector Minniti”, has given up his bizarre obsession with becoming a police officer, the District Court was told yesterday.

Minniti’s defence lawyer Laurie Levy said that since his client had been charged and convicted of corruption, he felt as if there had been “some sort of betrayal” of his services.

But Minniti had been so impressed when dealing with the Corruption and Crime Commission that he now wanted to be a CCC investigator, Mr Levy said.

He made the comments when making an unsuccessful submission that Minniti — described in court as a Walter Mittytype character — should get a suspended jail sentence for his crimes.

Minniti, 44, was found guilty last month of corruption, making a false statutory declaration and attempting to induce a witness to give false evidence to the CCC.

Judge Peter Martino imposed a total jail term of 18 months. With parole, Minniti should be free in nine months.

His co-accused, former police officer Arduino Silvestri, 44, who was found guilty of one charge of corruption, was jailed for 12 months. He will have to serve six months before possible parole.

Silvestri, a police officer since 1984, was told by Judge Martino: “You did not act corruptly to gain any personal benefit — it was to help a friend of a friend. But it was a serious offence because you were in a position of trust. We require police officers who can be trusted to act impartially.”

The corruption charge related to an incident in 2005 when Domenico Yozzi, a friend of Minniti, got a speeding fine. Minniti arranged for Mr Yozzi to sign a statutory declaration stating he was not the driver and Silvestri, who worked in the Perth traffic office, agreed to write off the fine knowing that he was not entitled to do so. The same year, Minniti signed a false statutory declaration after his wife had been caught speeding.

The third charge against Minniti related to when the CCC was inquiring into his activities. Businessman Stephen Beechey, who had had a Multanova infringement withdrawn, was carrying a “bug” when he met Minniti in July 2006 where Minniti implored Mr Beechey not to tell the truth to the CCC.

Judge Martino told Minniti: “You knew what you were doing was wrong.”

Prosecutor Simon Stone called for jail terms.

“The community will not tolerate corruption,” he said.

Outside court, Mr Levy said that Minniti was disappointed to have been convicted and jailed.

“He is not the type of person who is well-suited to jail,” he said.

Asked about Minniti’s desire to join the CCC, Mr Levy added: “The reality is that even he can see he will not be a CCC investigator.”