The vice-chancellor of a Perth university looked up pornography on his work computer almost 500 times and engaged in serious misconduct by appointing a close friend to a senior position, the corruption watchdog has found.
Murdoch University vice-chancellor Richard Higgott was stood aside on full pay in September 2014.
The university referred him to the Corruption and Crime Commission following an internal investigation and he quit the next month.
On Friday, the CCC said the professor engaged in serious misconduct by appointing close friend Margaret Ann Capling as the deputy vice-chancellor of education.
The CCC said his deception was two-fold as he not only failed to declare the full extent of their long-standing friendship, but submitted a sham declaration to the selection panel that they had an arm's length professional association.
"Professor Higgott's purpose in seeking the appointment of Professor Capling was tainted and without integrity," the CCC said.
"He did not follow Murdoch's procedures because if he had done so, Professor Capling might not have been appointed. He wanted her."
The CCC also deemed as misconduct Professor Higgott misleading the chancellor over the circumstances surrounding the appointment and termination of Jonathan Baldwin as the deputy vice-chancellor of professional services.
Mr Baldwin left because his working relationship with Prof Capling and another professor broke down beyond repair, but this was instead attributed to him wanting to return to the UK for family and personal reasons.
The CCC also classed Prof Higgott's viewing of 486 adult-rated files on his work-issued laptop as misconduct.
When quizzed by the corruption watchdog about that, he was candid, admitting he partly-successfully used computer hard drive scrubbing software to cover his digital tracks.
"I put my hand up, I accessed adult sites; mistakes I know," he said.
"I can't do anything other than plead stupidity."
Vice-chancellor Eeva Leinonen said the university viewed misconduct extremely seriously.
"We expect integrity and respect to underpin the way we conduct our professional lives," Professor Leinonen said.
"As the new vice-chancellor, I will ensure Murdoch University is well placed for the future."
