Evidence against WA uni staff 'serious'

Alleged misconduct by academics at a Perth university include misleading and deceiving the Corruption and Crime Commission, its chancellor says.

Murdoch University revealed in September that vice chancellor Richard Higgott had been stood aside on full pay after the institution referred him to the CCC following an internal investigation.

At the time, the university told AAP no other staff members were being investigated.

Just over a month later, the 65-year-old professor resigned.

And in recent days, it has emerged Murdoch's Professor Ann Capling is also under investigation for alleged misconduct.

On Thursday, chancellor David Flanagan told ABC radio a handful of senior staff were in the spotlight.

"The people who are affected by this investigation and the evidence that's been put forward to the CCC is less than five," the Atlas Iron founder and chairman said.

He said the CCC asked the university to start its investigation in January this year.

When initial concerns were looked into, more serious evidence was "stumbled across", Mr Flanagan said.

"I'm not able to speak to all of the matters ... these are not allegations, these just form part of the evidence.

"One of the more serious matters referred included evidence of misleading and deceiving the Corruption and Crime Commission.

"We also identified evidence ... of significant conflicts of interest and a lack of proper process around key staff appointments.

"We also found evidence of instances involving the destruction of documents under the State Records Act and the Freedom of Information Act.

"We also found some anomalies in relation to credit card use ... excessive termination payments in relation to senior staff, and we also found and provided to the CCC significant evidence in relation to bullying at the university."